diff --git a/.changeset/pre.json b/.changeset/pre.json
index be9774ee..8ba8ef5d 100644
--- a/.changeset/pre.json
+++ b/.changeset/pre.json
@@ -3,14 +3,12 @@
   "tag": "beta",
   "initialVersions": {
     "docs": "0.0.0",
-    "@hwy-js/build": "0.4.0-beta.33",
-    "hwy": "0.4.0-beta.33",
-    "create-hwy": "0.4.0-beta.33",
-    "@hwy-js/dev": "0.4.0-beta.33",
+    "@hwy-js/build": "0.4.0-beta.34",
+    "hwy": "0.4.0-beta.34",
+    "create-hwy": "0.4.0-beta.34",
+    "@hwy-js/dev": "0.4.0-beta.34",
     "cf-pages-tester": "0.0.0",
     "tester": "0.0.0"
   },
-  "changesets": [
-    "rotten-boxes-watch"
-  ]
+  "changesets": ["rotten-boxes-watch", "three-cooks-fold"]
 }
diff --git a/.changeset/three-cooks-fold.md b/.changeset/three-cooks-fold.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b871117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/three-cooks-fold.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"create-hwy": patch
+"@hwy-js/build": patch
+---
+
+tweak build step, auto read latest version in create-hwy
diff --git a/CHANGESETS-DIRECTIONS.md b/CHANGESETS-DIRECTIONS.md
index 4bd263bd..fd3efb81 100644
--- a/CHANGESETS-DIRECTIONS.md
+++ b/CHANGESETS-DIRECTIONS.md
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ https://github.com/changesets/changesets/blob/main/docs/prereleases.md
 ```sh
 pnpm changeset pre enter beta
 pnpm changeset version
+pnpm build
 pnpm changeset publish
+git add .
+git commit -am "whatever"
 git push --follow-tags
 pnpm changeset pre exit
 ```
diff --git a/docs/package.json b/docs/package.json
index 7e7e93c5..b91b8eee 100644
--- a/docs/package.json
+++ b/docs/package.json
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@
     "@hono/node-server": "^1.2.0",
     "highlight.js": "^11.8.0",
     "hono": "^3.7.5",
-    "hwy": "0.4.0-beta.34"
+    "hwy": "0.4.0-beta.35"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@hwy-js/build": "0.4.0-beta.34",
-    "@hwy-js/dev": "0.4.0-beta.34",
+    "@hwy-js/build": "0.4.0-beta.35",
+    "@hwy-js/dev": "0.4.0-beta.35",
     "@types/node": "^20.8.3",
     "@types/nprogress": "^0.2.1",
     "htmx.org": "^1.9.6",
diff --git a/packages/build/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/build/CHANGELOG.md
index 5ef13e76..ccb761ba 100644
--- a/packages/build/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/build/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # @hwy-js/build
 
+## 0.4.0-beta.35
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- tweak build step, auto read latest version in create-hwy
+
 ## 0.4.0-beta.34
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/build/package.json b/packages/build/package.json
index b501f2ff..cbc25579 100644
--- a/packages/build/package.json
+++ b/packages/build/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@hwy-js/build",
-  "version": "0.4.0-beta.34",
+  "version": "0.4.0-beta.35",
   "author": {
     "name": "Samuel J. Cook"
   },
diff --git a/packages/build/src/run-build-tasks.ts b/packages/build/src/run-build-tasks.ts
index 6c2fbb2e..35e5c124 100644
--- a/packages/build/src/run-build-tasks.ts
+++ b/packages/build/src/run-build-tasks.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ async function runBuildTasks({ log, isDev }: { isDev: boolean; log?: string }) {
   if (is_first_run) {
     is_first_run = false;
 
-    if (fs.existsSync(dist_path)) {
+    // look for a hwy-specific file that indicates a previous build
+    if (fs.existsSync(path.join(dist_path, "public-reverse-map.js"))) {
       hwyLog("Removing old dist folder...");
       fs.rmSync(dist_path, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
diff --git a/packages/core/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/core/CHANGELOG.md
index bc1356b2..23a54b83 100644
--- a/packages/core/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/core/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # hwy
 
+## 0.4.0-beta.35
+
 ## 0.4.0-beta.34
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index 8a104499..93b5431b 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "hwy",
-  "version": "0.4.0-beta.34",
+  "version": "0.4.0-beta.35",
   "author": {
     "name": "Samuel J. Cook"
   },
diff --git a/packages/create-hwy/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/create-hwy/CHANGELOG.md
index 75cc57d1..aa9dc434 100644
--- a/packages/create-hwy/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/create-hwy/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # create-hwy
 
+## 0.4.0-beta.35
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- tweak build step, auto read latest version in create-hwy
+
 ## 0.4.0-beta.34
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/create-hwy/package.json b/packages/create-hwy/package.json
index c35a88f0..78297040 100644
--- a/packages/create-hwy/package.json
+++ b/packages/create-hwy/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "create-hwy",
-  "version": "0.4.0-beta.34",
+  "version": "0.4.0-beta.35",
   "author": {
     "name": "Samuel J. Cook"
   },
diff --git a/packages/create-hwy/src/get-package-json.ts b/packages/create-hwy/src/get-package-json.ts
index f1a07f33..8f0ffed2 100644
--- a/packages/create-hwy/src/get-package-json.ts
+++ b/packages/create-hwy/src/get-package-json.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 import { DEFAULT_PORT } from "../../common/index.mjs";
 import type { Options } from "../index.js";
 import { get_is_target_deno } from "./utils.js";
+import fs from "node:fs";
+
+const latest_hwy_version = JSON.parse(
+  fs.readFileSync(new URL("../package.json", import.meta.url), "utf-8"),
+).version;
 
 const VERSIONS = {
-  HWY: "^0.4.0-beta.33",
+  HWY: `^${latest_hwy_version}`,
   HONO_NODE_SERVER: "^1.2.0",
   HONO: "^3.7.5",
   HTMX: "^1.9.6",
diff --git a/packages/dev/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/dev/CHANGELOG.md
index ba8c9e88..ec176317 100644
--- a/packages/dev/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/dev/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # @hwy-js/dev
 
+## 0.4.0-beta.35
+
 ## 0.4.0-beta.34
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/dev/package.json b/packages/dev/package.json
index 570df1ce..2f58c5c8 100644
--- a/packages/dev/package.json
+++ b/packages/dev/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@hwy-js/dev",
-  "version": "0.4.0-beta.34",
+  "version": "0.4.0-beta.35",
   "author": {
     "name": "Samuel J. Cook"
   },