diff --git a/src/scripts/bump_project_version.py b/src/scripts/bump_project_version.py
index 08d7726..89e2edf 100644
--- a/src/scripts/bump_project_version.py
+++ b/src/scripts/bump_project_version.py
@@ -80,12 +80,23 @@ try:
 
     before_raw = pi.version
     before_str = str(before_raw) if before_raw is not None else None
-    before_parts = parse_version(before_raw)
-    after_parts = bump(before_parts, LEVEL)
-    after_str = '%d.%d.%d.%d' % after_parts
 
-    print("DEBUG: bump_project_version: level=%s before=%s -> after=%s" % (
-        LEVEL, before_str, after_str))
+    # First-run convention: if no version is set yet, seed at 1.0.0.0 instead
+    # of treating "no version" as 0.0.0.0 + bump (which would give 0.0.0.1
+    # for level=build, awkward for a first canonical version). Most projects
+    # start tracking at 1.0.0.0 when they first turn on versioning, and the
+    # level argument is moot for the seed step.
+    seed_check = parse_version(before_raw)
+    if seed_check == (0, 0, 0, 0) and (before_raw is None or str(before_raw).strip() in ('', '0.0.0.0', 'None')):
+        after_parts = (1, 0, 0, 0)
+        after_str = '1.0.0.0'
+        print("DEBUG: bump_project_version: no prior version -- seeding to 1.0.0.0 (level=%s ignored on first run)" % LEVEL)
+    else:
+        before_parts = seed_check
+        after_parts = bump(before_parts, LEVEL)
+        after_str = '%d.%d.%d.%d' % after_parts
+        print("DEBUG: bump_project_version: level=%s before=%s -> after=%s" % (
+            LEVEL, before_str, after_str))
 
     pi.version = after_str
 
diff --git a/src/server.ts b/src/server.ts
index 9cb9310..54a6722 100644
--- a/src/server.ts
+++ b/src/server.ts
@@ -1350,7 +1350,7 @@ export async function startMcpServer(config: ServerConfig): Promise<void> {
 
   s.tool(
     'bump_project_version',
-    "Bumps one part of the 4-part Project Information.Version field of the primary project (Major.Minor.Revision.Build) and saves the project. Convention: major = incompatible API break (rename FB / change public signature / remove method); minor = backward-compatible feature add (new FB / GVL / method); revision = bug fix only; build = internal counter, often 0 for hand-released versions. Bumping a higher part resets all lower parts to 0 (e.g. bumping minor resets revision and build to 0). Treats None / empty / unset version as '0.0.0.0'. The Version is exposed at runtime via the Project Information library's GetVersion() helper, which IEC code can call to surface the running version.",
+    "Bumps one part of the 4-part Project Information.Version field of the primary project (Major.Minor.Revision.Build) and saves the project. Convention: major = incompatible API break (rename FB / change public signature / remove method); minor = backward-compatible feature add (new FB / GVL / method); revision = bug fix only; build = internal counter, often 0 for hand-released versions. Bumping a higher part resets all lower parts to 0 (e.g. bumping minor resets revision and build to 0). FIRST-RUN: if no version is set yet (None/empty/0.0.0.0), seeds at 1.0.0.0 regardless of level so a first-time bump gives a canonical starting point instead of 0.0.0.1. The Version is exposed at runtime via the Project Information library's GetVersion() helper, which IEC code can call to surface the running version.",
     {
       projectFilePath: z.string().describe("Path to the project file."),
       level: z.enum(['major', 'minor', 'revision', 'build']).describe("Which part of the 4-part version to bump. Major = incompatible API break. Minor = backward-compatible feature add. Revision = bug fix only. Build = internal / CI counter."),