diff --git a/VERSIONS b/VERSIONS
index 8e6bb61ab..9d7b51be6 100644
--- a/VERSIONS
+++ b/VERSIONS
@@ -2,12 +2,16 @@
 ChucK VERSIONS log
 ------------------
 
-
 1.5.4.3 (December 2024)
 =======
-(added, at last) class static variable initialization for primitive
+new ChuGL v0.2.5 (see ChuGL release notes below)
+======
+ChucK language updates:
+(added, at last) class STATIC variable initialization for primitive
     and Objects types. (Previously, static variables needed to be
-    instantiated and initialized separately.) Now they can, e.g.,
+    instantiated and initialized separately.) Now variables of any
+    type can be declared as static variable and they will be automatically
+    initialized on a per-class basis. Example:
     ----------------------------------------
     class Foo
     {
@@ -56,8 +60,8 @@ ChucK VERSIONS log
 (fixed) class definitions that encounter compiler errors (or are
     in files that have compiler errors) are now correctly rolled back
     in the type system; previously it was possible to instantiate
-    partial class definition from a subsequent file, with undefined
-    outcome
+    partial class definition defined in previously compiled code/file,
+    with undefined outcome
 
 
 1.5.4.2 (November 2024)
diff --git a/src/core/chuck_def.h b/src/core/chuck_def.h
index b2beee2c3..92b1ad082 100644
--- a/src/core/chuck_def.h
+++ b/src/core/chuck_def.h
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 // 1.5.0.0 (ge) | moved to chuck.h for at-a-glance visibility
 // 1.5.2.0 (ge) | moved to chuck_def.h for chugins headers streamlining
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-#define CHUCK_VERSION_STRING        "1.5.4.3-dev (chai)"
+#define CHUCK_VERSION_STRING        "1.5.4.3 (chai)"
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
diff --git a/src/makefile b/src/makefile
index 7f59e0c14..49d8e8269 100644
--- a/src/makefile
+++ b/src/makefile
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ CK_HOST_DIR=host
 # where to find RtAudio
 RTAUDIO_DIR=RtAudio
 # chuck version
-CK_VERSION=1.5.4.3-dev
+CK_VERSION=1.5.4.3
 
 
 ########################## DEFAULT MAKE TARGET ################################