diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index a795885..088e0b2 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "packages/extended-data": "8.5.1",
-  "packages/pytest-extended-data": "0.2.0"
+  "packages/extended-data": "8.5.2",
+  "packages/pytest-extended-data": "0.2.1"
 }
diff --git a/packages/extended-data/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/extended-data/CHANGELOG.md
index 639ca3e..6efe124 100644
--- a/packages/extended-data/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/extended-data/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [8.5.2](https://github.com/jbcom/extended-data/compare/extended-data-v8.5.1...extended-data-v8.5.2) (2026-08-24)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* harden path validation and consumer guides ([8a83bd9](https://github.com/jbcom/extended-data/commit/8a83bd9e48cd77a6c3679e56eb9e994c71d2acb1))
+* harden path validation and consumer guides ([4768053](https://github.com/jbcom/extended-data/commit/47680537232e2460a583fde5d8ea136561249eb8))
+
 ## [8.5.1](https://github.com/jbcom/extended-data/compare/extended-data-v8.5.0...extended-data-v8.5.1) (2026-08-24)
 
 
diff --git a/packages/extended-data/pyproject.toml b/packages/extended-data/pyproject.toml
index ccfe308..14420a9 100644
--- a/packages/extended-data/pyproject.toml
+++ b/packages/extended-data/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "extended-data"
-version = "8.5.1"
+version = "8.5.2"
 description = "Comprehensive Python data utilities for serialization, inputs, logging, and workflows"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
 license = { text = "MIT" }
diff --git a/packages/pytest-extended-data/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/pytest-extended-data/CHANGELOG.md
index 50efd5e..86f9d31 100644
--- a/packages/pytest-extended-data/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/pytest-extended-data/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [0.2.1](https://github.com/jbcom/extended-data/compare/pytest-extended-data-v0.2.0...pytest-extended-data-v0.2.1) (2026-08-24)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* harden path validation and consumer guides ([8a83bd9](https://github.com/jbcom/extended-data/commit/8a83bd9e48cd77a6c3679e56eb9e994c71d2acb1))
+* harden path validation and consumer guides ([4768053](https://github.com/jbcom/extended-data/commit/47680537232e2460a583fde5d8ea136561249eb8))
+
 ## [0.2.0](https://github.com/jbcom/extended-data/compare/pytest-extended-data-v0.1.0...pytest-extended-data-v0.2.0) (2026-08-24)
 
 
diff --git a/packages/pytest-extended-data/pyproject.toml b/packages/pytest-extended-data/pyproject.toml
index ece7b94..1125328 100644
--- a/packages/pytest-extended-data/pyproject.toml
+++ b/packages/pytest-extended-data/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "pytest-extended-data"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.1"
 description = "Pytest fixtures and assertions for projects using extended-data"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
 license = { text = "MIT" }