diff --git a/.github/workflows/bundle.yml b/.github/workflows/bundle.yml
index f62ec9f..99a4132 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/bundle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/bundle.yml
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ jobs:
           if [ -z "$GH_TOKEN" ]; then
             echo "::notice::No ISO_DISPATCH_TOKEN: the Steamify ISO isn't released with this version."; exit 0
           fi
-          if [ "$GITHUB_REF" = refs/heads/main ]; then kind=release; else kind=dev; fi
-          gh workflow run iso-1-github-tag.yml -R theupriser/steamify-cachyos-live-iso --ref master -f kind="$kind"
-          echo "Started the Steamify ISO's release (theupriser/steamify-cachyos-live-iso, master, kind $kind)"
+          # A release branch builds the ISO with its own code (and VERSION): steamify_ref. main builds the release it just published.
+          if [ "$GITHUB_REF" = refs/heads/main ]; then kind=release; sref=""; else kind=dev; sref="$GITHUB_REF_NAME"; fi
+          gh workflow run iso-1-github-tag.yml -R theupriser/steamify-cachyos-live-iso --ref master -f kind="$kind" -f steamify_ref="$sref"
+          echo "Started the Steamify ISO's release (theupriser/steamify-cachyos-live-iso, master, kind $kind, Steamify ${sref:-the newest release})"
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f1522a4..b878672 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ one per merged pull request.
 
 ## 2.9.6 - 2026-09-30
 
+- **fix(ci): a dev ISO from a release branch is built with that branch's own Steamify (input steamify_ref of the ISO workflow), not the newest published release: release/2.9.6 kept producing 2.9.5 ISOs**
 - **docs: changelog hashes for 2.9.6**
 - `9a2965d` **fix(ci): the ISO workflow always runs from master; main asks for a release ISO, a release branch for a dev ISO (input `kind` of iso-1-github-tag.yml; feat/steamify is no longer needed)**
 - `c42d545` **fix(ci): a version published from main starts a real ISO release, a release branch a dev ISO (it always started the dev one)**