Index: README.md
===================================================================
--- README.md	(revision 318e1ce0d6605a2e3f9e29a69502da48c1c77a49)
+++ README.md	(revision 0343a7a9c1acf09a1d3b93f506411ae6b59e4e8b)
@@ -59,4 +59,8 @@
 with `klonkt-update`.
 
+Updates track the **`stable`** branch — it only advances to a version that's been verified,
+so `klonkt-update` never pulls work-in-progress. Want the bleeding edge instead? Install with
+`--branch main` (or set `KLONKT_BRANCH=main`).
+
 ### Option B — Docker
 
Index: scripts/install.sh
===================================================================
--- scripts/install.sh	(revision 318e1ce0d6605a2e3f9e29a69502da48c1c77a49)
+++ scripts/install.sh	(revision 0343a7a9c1acf09a1d3b93f506411ae6b59e4e8b)
@@ -22,5 +22,8 @@
 # ── Settings (override via env var or flag) ────────────────────────────────
 KLONKT_REPO="${KLONKT_REPO:-https://github.com/roboburr/klonkt.git}"
-KLONKT_BRANCH="${KLONKT_BRANCH:-main}"
+# `stable` = the release channel: it only moves forward to a version that has been verified,
+# so a self-host auto-update (klonkt-update) never pulls work-in-progress. Use `--branch main`
+# for the bleeding-edge dev branch instead.
+KLONKT_BRANCH="${KLONKT_BRANCH:-stable}"
 KLONKT_DIR="${KLONKT_DIR:-/opt/klonkt}"
 KLONKT_USER="${KLONKT_USER:-klonkt}"