diff --git a/src/jira_hub/api.py b/src/jira_hub/api.py
index bc70509..ac4729c 100644
--- a/src/jira_hub/api.py
+++ b/src/jira_hub/api.py
@@ -113,7 +113,11 @@ def h_claim(hub, conn, m, q, body):
         if cmd or time.monotonic() >= deadline:
             break
         time.sleep(1)
-    rel = release.current(hub.release_dir)
+    try:                                      # команда уже выдана: публикация не должна превращать ответ в 500 (I-1)
+        rel = release.current(hub.release_dir)
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001
+        log.exception("release: чтение публикации при claim")
+        rel = None
     return 200, {"command": cmd, "settings_version": settings.get(conn, "settings_version"),
                  "agent_release": {"version": rel["version"], "sha256": rel["sha256"]} if rel else None}
 
diff --git a/src/jira_hub/release.py b/src/jira_hub/release.py
index 8ce1569..a0d093a 100644
--- a/src/jira_hub/release.py
+++ b/src/jira_hub/release.py
@@ -62,12 +62,12 @@ def publish(release_dir, source) -> dict:
 def current(release_dir) -> dict | None:
     """Опубликованная версия по манифесту; нет или битый манифест — None (агенту нечего обновлять)."""
     path = Path(release_dir) / "manifest.json"
-    if not path.exists():
-        return None
     try:
         m = json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
         return {"version": int(m["version"]), "sha256": str(m["sha256"]), "published_at": m.get("published_at")}
-    except (OSError, ValueError, KeyError, TypeError) as e:
+    except (FileNotFoundError, NotADirectoryError):
+        return None
+    except (OSError, ValueError, KeyError, TypeError) as e:     # нет прав, битый JSON: публикации нет, мост работает
         log.warning("release: манифест %s не читается (%s) — публикации нет", path, e)
         return None
 
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 5459c72..13c6a08 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import json
+import os
 import threading
 import urllib.error
 import urllib.request
@@ -462,3 +463,22 @@ def test_hint_without_launcher(hub, tmp_path):
 def test_agent_view_without_release(hub):
     v = hub["client"].get("/agent")
     assert v["release"] is None and v["update_state"] is None and v["launcher_version"] is None and v["update_hint"] is None
+
+
+def test_claim_survives_unreadable_release(hub):
+    rd = hub["hub"].release_dir
+    rd.mkdir()
+    (rd / "manifest.json").write_text('{"version": 6, "sha256": "x"}', encoding="utf-8")
+    os.chmod(rd, 0)
+    try:
+        b = hub["client"].post("/batches", {"title": "т", "author": "claude",
+                                            "commands": [{"type": "ensure_fields", "params": {"key": "A-1", "duedate": "2026-10-23"}}]})
+        r = hub["agent"].post("/agent/claim", {"agent_version": 5})
+        assert r["command"] is not None and r["agent_release"] is None      # публикация не роняет выдачу команды
+        assert hub["client"].get("/agent")["release"] is None
+        with pytest.raises(HubError) as e:
+            hub["agent"].get("/agent/release")
+        assert e.value.status == 404
+        assert b["id"]
+    finally:
+        os.chmod(rd, 0o700)