diff --git a/mix.exs b/mix.exs
index 7c167df..2b7557c 100644
--- a/mix.exs
+++ b/mix.exs
@@ -6,7 +6,28 @@ defmodule Guildhall.MixProject do
       apps_path: "apps",
       version: "0.1.0",
       start_permanent: Mix.env() == :prod,
-      deps: deps()
+      deps: deps(),
+      releases: releases()
+    ]
+  end
+
+  # Release configuration. Umbrella projects require an explicit
+  # `releases:` block — mix release cannot infer a default from the
+  # umbrella root because there is no single "application" to release.
+  # The `:guildhall` release bundles all five umbrella children in a
+  # startup order that respects the dep graph: ops_db first (the Repo
+  # other apps use), then infra apps, then the web endpoint last.
+  defp releases do
+    [
+      guildhall: [
+        applications: [
+          guildhall_ops_db: :permanent,
+          guildhall_chronicle: :permanent,
+          guildhall_orchestrator: :permanent,
+          guildhall_graph_bridge: :permanent,
+          guildhall_web: :permanent
+        ]
+      ]
     ]
   end