diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0a52623..d7d4cd5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,33 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## v1.16.1 — REPL Isolation & Stability
+
+### ✨ Improvements
+
+- Fully isolated the REPL from CLI commands (`build`, `run`, `check`, `tests`, `verify`)
+- Disabled execution of CLI commands and flags inside the REPL
+- Removed CLI flags from REPL autocompletion to avoid misleading suggestions
+- Disabled `help <command>` and CLI command listing inside the REPL
+- Improved REPL UX consistency with a sandboxed, Bun/Deno-like experience
+
+### 🧠 Behavior Changes
+
+- The REPL is now a **pure interactive sandbox** for:
+  - math expressions
+  - variables
+  - JSON literals
+  - `print / println`
+  - `Vix` API (`cd`, `cwd`, `env`, `args`, `exit`, etc.)
+- All project-related CLI commands must now be executed **outside** the REPL
+
+### 🛠 Internal
+
+- Removed remaining runtime dependencies between the REPL and the CLI dispatcher
+- Simplified REPL command completion logic
+
+---
+
 ## 1.16.0 — 2025-01-XX
 
 ### 🚀 Highlights
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1d9c1ff..19ca80d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20)
 #   cmake --build build -j
 # ====================================================================
 
-project(vix VERSION 1.16.0 LANGUAGES CXX)
+project(vix VERSION 1.16.1 LANGUAGES CXX)
 
 # Make find_package honor *_ROOT hints (e.g. MYSQLCPPCONN_ROOT)
 if (POLICY CMP0144)
diff --git a/modules/cli b/modules/cli
index 1ba4b76..1f1f683 160000
--- a/modules/cli
+++ b/modules/cli
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 1ba4b7624a9ab9b3c78224aa9eb562538960301b
+Subproject commit 1f1f6835d7152cd72f0141725d7dfc0b0e61ce67