diff --git a/.github/workflows/version-check.yml b/.github/workflows/version-check.yml
index 8d906b3..0d2cc10 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/version-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/version-check.yml
@@ -193,20 +193,28 @@ jobs:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const fs = require('fs');
-            let mainVersion, stagingVersion, failureReason;
+            let mainVersion, prBranchVersion, failureReason;
             try {
               mainVersion = fs.readFileSync('main/pyproject.toml', 'utf8')
                 .match(/^version\s*=\s*["']([^"']+)["']/m)[1];
-              stagingVersion = fs.readFileSync('staging/pyproject.toml', 'utf8')
-                .match(/^version\s*=\s*["']([^"']+)["']/m)[1];
             } catch (e) {
+              console.error('Failed to read main version:', e.message);
               mainVersion = 'unknown';
-              stagingVersion = 'unknown';
+            }
+            
+            try {
+              prBranchVersion = fs.readFileSync('pr-branch/pyproject.toml', 'utf8')
+                .match(/^version\s*=\s*["']([^"']+)["']/m)[1];
+            } catch (e) {
+              console.error('Failed to read PR branch version:', e.message);
+              prBranchVersion = 'unknown';
             }
             
             // Get failure reason from step output
             failureReason = '${{ steps.failure_reason.outputs.reason }}' || '';
             
+            const prBranch = context.payload.pull_request.head.ref;
+            
             let body = `❌ **Version Check Failed**\n\n`;
             
             if (failureReason) {
@@ -215,13 +223,13 @@ jobs:
             
             body += `**Version Bump:**\n` +
                     `- Main version: \`${mainVersion}\`\n` +
-                    `- Staging version: \`${stagingVersion}\`\n\n` +
+                    `- PR branch (\`${prBranch}\`) version: \`${prBranchVersion}\`\n\n` +
                     `Please update the version in **BOTH** files before merging to main:\n\n` +
                     `1. \`pyproject.toml\` (under \`[project]\` section)\n` +
                     `2. \`cartha_validator/__init__.py\` (fallback \`__version__\`)\n\n` +
                     `**Requirements:**\n` +
                     `- Both files must have the **same version**\n` +
-                    `- The staging version must be **greater** than the main version\n` +
+                    `- The PR branch version must be **greater** than the main version\n` +
                     `- Use semantic versioning: \`major.minor.patch\`\n` +
                     `- Repository version_key must be >= subnet weights_version (netuid 35)\n\n` +
                     `Check the workflow logs above for detailed error messages.`;
diff --git a/cartha_validator/__init__.py b/cartha_validator/__init__.py
index 5e7701d..aaf5163 100644
--- a/cartha_validator/__init__.py
+++ b/cartha_validator/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Validator tooling for Cartha."""
 
-__version__ = "1.0.1"
+__version__ = "1.0.2"
 
 # Convert version string (e.g., "1.0.0") to spec_version integer (e.g., 1000)
 # Format: 1000 * major + 10 * minor + 1 * patch
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index f3f13ff..311250f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "cartha-subnet-validator"
-version = "1.0.1"
+version = "1.0.2"
 description = "Cartha subnet validator reference implementation."
 requires-python = ">=3.11,<3.12"
 authors = [
diff --git a/scripts/validator_manager.py b/scripts/validator_manager.py
index 9dad27c..6eec7c5 100755
--- a/scripts/validator_manager.py
+++ b/scripts/validator_manager.py
@@ -243,6 +243,73 @@ def initialize_validator_uid(
             )
             return False
 
+    def get_running_validator_version(self) -> str | None:
+        """
+        Extract the running validator version from its logs.
+        
+        Returns:
+            Version string if found, None otherwise
+        """
+        try:
+            # Get recent logs from PM2
+            logs = self.pm2_manager.get_logs(lines=200)
+            
+            # Look for version pattern: "Validator version: 1.0.1" or "__version__ = 1.0.1"
+            import re
+            patterns = [
+                r'Validator version:\s*([\d.]+)',
+                r'__version__\s*=\s*["\']([\d.]+)["\']',
+                r'version_key=(\d+)',  # Fallback: extract from version_key
+            ]
+            
+            for pattern in patterns:
+                match = re.search(pattern, logs)
+                if match:
+                    version = match.group(1)
+                    # If we got version_key, convert it back (e.g., 1001 -> 1.0.1)
+                    if pattern == patterns[2] and len(version) == 4:
+                        major = int(version[0])
+                        minor = int(version[1:3])
+                        patch = int(version[3])
+                        return f"{major}.{minor}.{patch}"
+                    return version
+            
+            return None
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Warning: Could not extract running validator version: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+            return None
+
+    def check_running_version_mismatch(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if running validator version differs from local code version.
+        This handles cases where code was updated but validator wasn't restarted.
+        
+        Returns:
+            True if versions don't match and restart is needed, False otherwise
+        """
+        try:
+            local_version = get_version_from_pyproject()
+            running_version = self.get_running_validator_version()
+            
+            if running_version is None:
+                # Can't determine running version, assume it's fine
+                return False
+            
+            if local_version != running_version:
+                print(
+                    f"⚠ Version mismatch detected!\n"
+                    f"  Local code version: {local_version}\n"
+                    f"  Running validator version: {running_version}\n"
+                    f"  Restarting validator to sync versions...",
+                    file=sys.stderr
+                )
+                return True
+            
+            return False
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Warning: Could not check version mismatch: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+            return False
+
     def check_for_updates(self) -> tuple[bool, str | None]:
         """
         Check if a new release is available on GitHub.
@@ -384,7 +451,16 @@ def run_update_loop(self) -> None:
 
         while True:
             try:
-                # Check for updates
+                # First, check if running validator version matches local code version
+                # This handles cases where code was updated but validator wasn't restarted
+                if self.check_running_version_mismatch():
+                    print("Restarting validator to sync with local code version...")
+                    self.pm2_manager.restart_validator()
+                    time.sleep(5)  # Wait for restart
+                    if not self.pm2_manager.is_running():
+                        print("Warning: Validator failed to restart after version sync", file=sys.stderr)
+                
+                # Check for updates from GitHub
                 update_available, latest_version = self.check_for_updates()
 
                 if update_available:
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index bed81f8..061e642 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "cartha-subnet-validator"
-version = "1.0.1"
+version = "1.0.2"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "apscheduler" },