diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index b1cd40a2..b8c485ee 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -162,11 +162,29 @@ log "Deploying personal dotfiles"
 for f in "${PERSONAL_FILES[@]}"; do deploy_file "$f"; done
 for d in "${PERSONAL_DIRS[@]}"; do deploy_dir "$d"; done
 
-# .local/bin/claude is a relative symlink to ../share/claude/versions/...
-# If that target isn't present on this machine, remove the dangling link so
-# Claude Code's own installer (next step) can manage it.
-if [ -L "$HOME/.local/bin/claude" ] && [ ! -e "$HOME/.local/bin/claude" ]; then
-  rm "$HOME/.local/bin/claude"
+# .local/bin/claude is a relative symlink to ../share/claude/versions/<version>.
+# The version baked into the repo snapshot is whatever was current when this
+# was last committed; on a fresh host that exact version probably isn't
+# installed. Resolve as follows:
+#   1. If the deployed symlink already resolves, leave it alone.
+#   2. Else, if any other Claude version is present under
+#      ~/.local/share/claude/versions/, repoint the symlink to the highest
+#      one (semver sort) so users get the latest installed binary.
+#   3. Else, drop the dangling link and let Claude Code's own installer
+#      (next step) recreate it.
+claude_link="$HOME/.local/bin/claude"
+claude_versions_dir="$HOME/.local/share/claude/versions"
+if [ -L "$claude_link" ] && [ ! -e "$claude_link" ]; then
+  latest_claude=""
+  if [ -d "$claude_versions_dir" ]; then
+    latest_claude="$(ls -1 "$claude_versions_dir" 2>/dev/null | sort -V | tail -1)"
+  fi
+  if [ -n "$latest_claude" ] && [ -e "$claude_versions_dir/$latest_claude" ]; then
+    ln -sfn "../share/claude/versions/$latest_claude" "$claude_link"
+    info "Repointed ~/.local/bin/claude -> $latest_claude (latest installed)"
+  else
+    rm "$claude_link"
+  fi
 fi
 
 # 4. Install Claude Code (Anthropic's CLI). Skip if already installed or