diff --git a/apps/cli/src/commands/core/git.rs b/apps/cli/src/commands/core/git.rs
index 617f5f4..9873670 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/commands/core/git.rs
+++ b/apps/cli/src/commands/core/git.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ pub fn tag_exists(path: &Path, tag: &str) -> bool {
         .unwrap_or(false)
 }
 
+/// Fetch tags from remote to sync local tags with remote
+pub fn fetch_tags(path: &Path, remote: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    git_cmd(&["fetch", remote, "--tags", "--force"], path)?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// List all tags sorted by version (newest first)
 pub fn list_tags(path: &Path) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
     let output = git_cmd(&["tag", "-l", "--sort=-v:refname"], path)?;
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/commands/publish.rs b/apps/cli/src/commands/publish.rs
index c2db84f..93266a1 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/commands/publish.rs
+++ b/apps/cli/src/commands/publish.rs
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ fn filter_semver_tags(tags: &[String]) -> Vec<String> {
         .collect()
 }
 
+/// Get the latest semver version from a list of tags
+fn get_latest_version(tags: &[String]) -> Option<String> {
+    filter_semver_tags(tags).into_iter().next()
+}
+
 /// Prompt user to select version bump type, existing tag, or enter custom version
 fn prompt_tag_selection(existing_tags: &[String], current_version: &str) -> Result<TagSelection> {
     // Filter to only semver tags
@@ -255,8 +260,19 @@ pub async fn run(args: PublishArgs) -> Result<()> {
     }
 
     // Step 4: Determine which tag to use
+    // First, sync local tags with remote to ensure we have the latest state from GitHub
+    print!("  Syncing tags from origin... ");
+    match git::fetch_tags(&skill_path, remote) {
+        Ok(()) => println!("✓"),
+        Err(e) => println!("⚠ ({})", e),
+    }
+
+    // Now list local tags (which are synced with remote)
     let existing_tags = git::list_tags(&skill_path)?;
 
+    // Get the latest version from tags for bump calculations
+    let latest_version = get_latest_version(&existing_tags);
+
     let (tag, needs_create) = if let Some(explicit_tag) = args.tag.clone() {
         // User explicitly provided a tag via --tag flag - validate it's semver
         let tag_to_check = if explicit_tag.starts_with('v') {
@@ -271,8 +287,9 @@ pub async fn run(args: PublishArgs) -> Result<()> {
         }
         (tag_to_check, false)
     } else if args.yes {
-        // Non-interactive mode: create patch bump
-        let (major, minor, patch) = parse_version(current_version)?;
+        // Non-interactive mode: create patch bump based on latest tag version
+        let base_version = latest_version.as_deref().unwrap_or(current_version);
+        let (major, minor, patch) = parse_version(base_version)?;
         let new_tag = format!("v{}.{}.{}", major, minor, patch + 1);
         if git::tag_exists(&skill_path, &new_tag) {
             bail!("Tag {} already exists.", new_tag);
@@ -281,7 +298,8 @@ pub async fn run(args: PublishArgs) -> Result<()> {
     } else {
         // Interactive mode: let user choose bump type or existing tag
         println!();
-        match prompt_tag_selection(&existing_tags, current_version)? {
+        let base_version = latest_version.as_deref().unwrap_or(current_version);
+        match prompt_tag_selection(&existing_tags, base_version)? {
             TagSelection::New(tag) => {
                 if git::tag_exists(&skill_path, &tag) {
                     bail!("Tag {} already exists.", tag);