diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
index ba9b1ae7..92bdd6ba 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed `pi update` to install the exact version returned by the Pi update check, make `--force` reinstall that checked version, fail instead of falling back to an unversioned reinstall when no version is available, and report both the old and updated versions.
+
 ## [0.79.9] - 2026-06-20
 
 ### New Features
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/config.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/config.ts
index 75b2efaf..38049f05 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/config.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/config.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,18 @@ export interface SelfUpdateCommand extends SelfUpdateCommandStep {
 	steps?: SelfUpdateCommandStep[];
 }
 
+export type SelfUpdatePackageTarget = string | { packageName: string; installSpec?: string };
+
+function normalizeSelfUpdatePackageTarget(target: SelfUpdatePackageTarget): {
+	packageName: string;
+	installSpec: string;
+} {
+	if (typeof target === "string") {
+		return { packageName: target, installSpec: target };
+	}
+	return { packageName: target.packageName, installSpec: target.installSpec ?? target.packageName };
+}
+
 function makeSelfUpdateCommand(
 	installStep: SelfUpdateCommandStep,
 	uninstallStep?: SelfUpdateCommandStep,
@@ -103,9 +115,10 @@ function getInferredNpmInstall(): { root: string; prefix: string } | undefined {
 function getSelfUpdateCommandForMethod(
 	method: InstallMethod,
 	installedPackageName: string,
-	updatePackageName = installedPackageName,
+	updatePackageTarget: SelfUpdatePackageTarget = installedPackageName,
 	npmCommand?: string[],
 ): SelfUpdateCommand | undefined {
+	const target = normalizeSelfUpdatePackageTarget(updatePackageTarget);
 	switch (method) {
 		case "bun-binary":
 			return undefined;
@@ -123,17 +136,17 @@ function getSelfUpdateCommandForMethod(
 					"--ignore-scripts",
 					"--config.minimumReleaseAge=0",
 					...binDirArgs,
-					updatePackageName,
+					target.installSpec,
 				]),
-				updatePackageName === installedPackageName
+				target.packageName === installedPackageName
 					? undefined
 					: makeSelfUpdateCommandStep("pnpm", ["remove", "-g", ...binDirArgs, installedPackageName]),
 			);
 		}
 		case "yarn":
 			return makeSelfUpdateCommand(
-				makeSelfUpdateCommandStep("yarn", ["global", "add", "--ignore-scripts", updatePackageName]),
-				updatePackageName === installedPackageName
+				makeSelfUpdateCommandStep("yarn", ["global", "add", "--ignore-scripts", target.installSpec]),
+				target.packageName === installedPackageName
 					? undefined
 					: makeSelfUpdateCommandStep("yarn", ["global", "remove", installedPackageName]),
 			);
@@ -144,9 +157,9 @@ function getSelfUpdateCommandForMethod(
 					"-g",
 					"--ignore-scripts",
 					"--minimum-release-age=0",
-					updatePackageName,
+					target.installSpec,
 				]),
-				updatePackageName === installedPackageName
+				target.packageName === installedPackageName
 					? undefined
 					: makeSelfUpdateCommandStep("bun", ["uninstall", "-g", installedPackageName]),
 			);
@@ -160,10 +173,10 @@ function getSelfUpdateCommandForMethod(
 				"-g",
 				"--ignore-scripts",
 				"--min-release-age=0",
-				updatePackageName,
+				target.installSpec,
 			]);
 			const uninstallStep =
-				updatePackageName === installedPackageName
+				target.packageName === installedPackageName
 					? undefined
 					: makeSelfUpdateCommandStep(command, [...prefixArgs, "uninstall", "-g", installedPackageName]);
 			return makeSelfUpdateCommand(installStep, uninstallStep);
@@ -302,10 +315,10 @@ function isManagedByGlobalPackageManager(method: InstallMethod, packageName: str
 export function getSelfUpdateCommand(
 	packageName: string,
 	npmCommand?: string[],
-	updatePackageName = packageName,
+	updatePackageTarget: SelfUpdatePackageTarget = packageName,
 ): SelfUpdateCommand | undefined {
 	const method = detectInstallMethod();
-	const command = getSelfUpdateCommandForMethod(method, packageName, updatePackageName, npmCommand);
+	const command = getSelfUpdateCommandForMethod(method, packageName, updatePackageTarget, npmCommand);
 	if (!command || !isManagedByGlobalPackageManager(method, packageName, npmCommand) || !isSelfUpdatePathWritable()) {
 		return undefined;
 	}
@@ -315,20 +328,21 @@ export function getSelfUpdateCommand(
 export function getSelfUpdateUnavailableInstruction(
 	packageName: string,
 	npmCommand?: string[],
-	updatePackageName = packageName,
+	updatePackageTarget: SelfUpdatePackageTarget = packageName,
 ): string {
 	const method = detectInstallMethod();
+	const target = normalizeSelfUpdatePackageTarget(updatePackageTarget);
 	if (method === "bun-binary") {
 		return `Download from: https://github.com/earendil-works/pi-mono/releases/latest`;
 	}
-	const command = getSelfUpdateCommandForMethod(method, packageName, updatePackageName, npmCommand);
+	const command = getSelfUpdateCommandForMethod(method, packageName, target, npmCommand);
 	if (command) {
 		if (isManagedByGlobalPackageManager(method, packageName, npmCommand) && !isSelfUpdatePathWritable()) {
 			return `This installation is managed by a global ${method} install, but the install path is not writable. Update it yourself with: ${command.display}`;
 		}
 		return `This installation is not managed by a global ${method} install. Update it with the package manager, wrapper, or source checkout that provides it.`;
 	}
-	return `Update ${updatePackageName} using the package manager, wrapper, or source checkout that provides this installation.`;
+	return `Update ${target.installSpec} using the package manager, wrapper, or source checkout that provides this installation.`;
 }
 
 export function getUpdateInstruction(packageName: string): string {
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/package-manager-cli.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/package-manager-cli.ts
index d47df930..32980851 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/package-manager-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/package-manager-cli.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 	getSelfUpdateUnavailableInstruction,
 	PACKAGE_NAME,
 	type SelfUpdateCommand,
+	type SelfUpdatePackageTarget,
 	VERSION,
 } from "./config.ts";
 import type { ExtensionFactory } from "./core/extensions/types.ts";
@@ -353,9 +354,12 @@ function updateTargetIncludesExtensions(target: UpdateTarget): boolean {
 	return target.type === "all" || target.type === "extensions";
 }
 
-function printSelfUpdateUnavailable(npmCommand?: string[], updatePackageName = PACKAGE_NAME): void {
+function printSelfUpdateUnavailable(
+	npmCommand?: string[],
+	updatePackageTarget: SelfUpdatePackageTarget = PACKAGE_NAME,
+): void {
 	console.error(`error: ${APP_NAME} cannot self-update this installation.`);
-	console.error(getSelfUpdateUnavailableInstruction(PACKAGE_NAME, npmCommand, updatePackageName));
+	console.error(getSelfUpdateUnavailableInstruction(PACKAGE_NAME, npmCommand, updatePackageTarget));
 
 	const entrypoint = process.argv[1];
 	if (entrypoint) {
@@ -390,27 +394,38 @@ function printSelfUpdateNote(note: string): void {
 
 interface SelfUpdatePlan {
 	packageName: string;
+	installSpec: string;
+	version: string;
 	shouldRun: boolean;
 	note?: string;
 }
 
 async function getSelfUpdatePlan(force: boolean): Promise<SelfUpdatePlan> {
-	if (force) {
-		return { packageName: PACKAGE_NAME, shouldRun: true };
+	let latestRelease: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof getLatestPiRelease>>;
+	try {
+		latestRelease = await getLatestPiRelease(VERSION);
+	} catch (error: unknown) {
+		const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+		throw new Error(`Could not determine latest ${APP_NAME} version: ${message}`);
+	}
+	if (!latestRelease) {
+		throw new Error(`Could not determine latest ${APP_NAME} version.`);
 	}
 
-	try {
-		const latestRelease = await getLatestPiRelease(VERSION);
-		const packageName = latestRelease?.packageName ?? PACKAGE_NAME;
-		if (!latestRelease || packageName !== PACKAGE_NAME || isNewerPackageVersion(latestRelease.version, VERSION)) {
-			return { packageName, shouldRun: true, ...(latestRelease?.note ? { note: latestRelease.note } : {}) };
-		}
-	} catch {
-		return { packageName: PACKAGE_NAME, shouldRun: true };
+	const packageName = latestRelease.packageName ?? PACKAGE_NAME;
+	const installSpec = `${packageName}@${latestRelease.version}`;
+	if (force || packageName !== PACKAGE_NAME || isNewerPackageVersion(latestRelease.version, VERSION)) {
+		return {
+			packageName,
+			installSpec,
+			version: latestRelease.version,
+			...(latestRelease.note ? { note: latestRelease.note } : {}),
+			shouldRun: true,
+		};
 	}
 
 	console.log(chalk.green(`${APP_NAME} is already up to date (v${VERSION})`));
-	return { packageName: PACKAGE_NAME, shouldRun: false };
+	return { packageName, installSpec, version: latestRelease.version, shouldRun: false };
 }
 
 async function runSelfUpdate(command: SelfUpdateCommand): Promise<void> {
@@ -717,13 +732,13 @@ export async function handlePackageCommand(
 						process.exitCode = 1;
 						return true;
 					}
-					const selfUpdateCommand = getSelfUpdateCommand(
-						PACKAGE_NAME,
-						selfUpdateNpmCommand,
-						selfUpdatePlan.packageName,
-					);
+					const selfUpdateTarget = {
+						packageName: selfUpdatePlan.packageName,
+						installSpec: selfUpdatePlan.installSpec,
+					};
+					const selfUpdateCommand = getSelfUpdateCommand(PACKAGE_NAME, selfUpdateNpmCommand, selfUpdateTarget);
 					if (!selfUpdateCommand) {
-						printSelfUpdateUnavailable(selfUpdateNpmCommand, selfUpdatePlan.packageName);
+						printSelfUpdateUnavailable(selfUpdateNpmCommand, selfUpdateTarget);
 						process.exitCode = 1;
 						return true;
 					}
@@ -742,7 +757,7 @@ export async function handlePackageCommand(
 						process.exitCode = 1;
 						return true;
 					}
-					console.log(chalk.green(`Updated ${APP_NAME}`));
+					console.log(chalk.green(`Updated ${APP_NAME} from ${VERSION} to ${selfUpdatePlan.version}`));
 				}
 				return true;
 			}
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/test/config.test.ts b/packages/coding-agent/test/config.test.ts
index cbfa044e..49448cf1 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/test/config.test.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/test/config.test.ts
@@ -188,6 +188,29 @@ describe("detectInstallMethod", () => {
 		});
 	});
 
+	test("self-updates exact npm versions without uninstalling the current package", () => {
+		const { prefix } = createNpmPrefixInstall();
+
+		const command = getSelfUpdateCommand("@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent", undefined, {
+			packageName: "@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent",
+			installSpec: "@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent@1.2.3",
+		});
+
+		expect(command).toEqual({
+			command: "npm",
+			args: [
+				"--prefix",
+				prefix,
+				"install",
+				"-g",
+				"--ignore-scripts",
+				"--min-release-age=0",
+				"@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent@1.2.3",
+			],
+			display: `npm --prefix ${prefix} install -g --ignore-scripts --min-release-age=0 @earendil-works/pi-coding-agent@1.2.3`,
+		});
+	});
+
 	test("self-updates renamed packages from the current install prefix", () => {
 		const { prefix } = createNpmPrefixInstall();
 
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts b/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
index df87cf34..6df65ded 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/test/package-command-paths.test.ts
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ describe("package commands", () => {
 		}
 	});
 
-	it("uses global npmCommand and current package name for forced self updates without checking the api", async () => {
+	it("uses the update check version for forced self updates even when current", async () => {
 		const globalPrefix = join(tempDir, "global-prefix");
 		const projectPrefix = join(tempDir, "project-prefix");
 		const selfPackageDir = join(globalPrefix, "lib", "node_modules", "@earendil-works", "pi-coding-agent");
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ else fs.writeFileSync(${JSON.stringify(recordPath)},JSON.stringify(args));
 			value: join(selfPackageDir, "dist", "cli.js"),
 			configurable: true,
 		});
-		const fetchMock = vi.fn();
+		const fetchMock = vi.fn(async () => Response.json({ version: VERSION }));
 		vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
 
 		const logSpy = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
@@ -413,11 +413,14 @@ else fs.writeFileSync(${JSON.stringify(recordPath)},JSON.stringify(args));
 
 			expect(process.exitCode).toBeUndefined();
 			expect(errorSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-			expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+			const stdout = logSpy.mock.calls.map(([message]) => String(message)).join("\n");
 			const recordedArgs = JSON.parse(readFileSync(recordPath, "utf-8")) as string[];
 			expect(recordedArgs).toContain(globalPrefix);
-			expect(recordedArgs).toContain(PACKAGE_NAME);
+			expect(recordedArgs).toContain(`${PACKAGE_NAME}@${VERSION}`);
+			expect(recordedArgs).not.toContain(PACKAGE_NAME);
 			expect(recordedArgs).not.toContain(projectPrefix);
+			expect(stdout).toContain(`Updated pi from ${VERSION} to ${VERSION}`);
 		} finally {
 			logSpy.mockRestore();
 			errorSpy.mockRestore();
@@ -446,7 +449,8 @@ else fs.writeFileSync(${JSON.stringify(recordPath)},JSON.stringify(args));
 			value: join(selfPackageDir, "dist", "cli.js"),
 			configurable: true,
 		});
-		const fetchMock = vi.fn(async () => Response.json({ version: getNewerPatchVersion() }));
+		const targetVersion = getNewerPatchVersion();
+		const fetchMock = vi.fn(async () => Response.json({ version: targetVersion }));
 		vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
 
 		const logSpy = vi.spyOn(console, "log").mockImplementation(() => {});
@@ -458,8 +462,11 @@ else fs.writeFileSync(${JSON.stringify(recordPath)},JSON.stringify(args));
 			expect(process.exitCode).toBeUndefined();
 			expect(errorSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 			expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+			const stdout = logSpy.mock.calls.map(([message]) => String(message)).join("\n");
 			const recordedArgs = JSON.parse(readFileSync(recordPath, "utf-8")) as string[];
-			expect(recordedArgs).toContain(PACKAGE_NAME);
+			expect(recordedArgs).toContain(`${PACKAGE_NAME}@${targetVersion}`);
+			expect(recordedArgs).not.toContain(PACKAGE_NAME);
+			expect(stdout).toContain(`Updated pi from ${VERSION} to ${targetVersion}`);
 		} finally {
 			logSpy.mockRestore();
 			errorSpy.mockRestore();
@@ -509,7 +516,7 @@ else {
 			const recordedCalls = JSON.parse(readFileSync(recordPath, "utf-8")) as string[][];
 			expect(recordedCalls).toEqual([
 				expect.arrayContaining(["uninstall", "-g", PACKAGE_NAME]),
-				expect.arrayContaining(["install", "-g", activePackageName]),
+				expect.arrayContaining(["install", "-g", `${activePackageName}@0.73.0`]),
 			]);
 		} finally {
 			logSpy.mockRestore();
@@ -565,7 +572,7 @@ if(args.includes("install")) process.exit(23);
 			const recordedCalls = JSON.parse(readFileSync(recordPath, "utf-8")) as string[][];
 			expect(recordedCalls).toEqual([
 				expect.arrayContaining(["uninstall", "-g", PACKAGE_NAME]),
-				expect.arrayContaining(["install", "-g", activePackageName]),
+				expect.arrayContaining(["install", "-g", `${activePackageName}@0.73.0`]),
 			]);
 		} finally {
 			logSpy.mockRestore();