diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index d02bd0e..02c82bb 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2025-09-12 - 4.4.0 - feat(smartnetwork)
+Add exclude option to findFreePort and skip excluded ports during search
+
+- Add an 'exclude' array to IFindFreePortOptions so callers can specify ports to ignore when searching for a free port.
+- Respect excluded ports in findFreePort for both random (randomize=true) and sequential searches so excluded ports are never returned.
+- Add .claude/settings.local.json to include local permissions used for development/CI helpers.
+
 ## 2025-09-12 - 4.3.0 - feat(smartnetwork)
 Add randomizable port search and switch DNS resolution to @push.rocks/smartdns; export smartdns and update docs
 
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 46dfe0a..575dbb6 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -99,6 +99,19 @@ const findFreePort = async () => {
   // Find a random free port in range (useful to avoid port conflicts)
   const randomPort = await network.findFreePort(3000, 3100, { randomize: true });
   console.log(`🎲 Random free port: ${randomPort}`);
+  
+  // Exclude specific ports from the search
+  const portWithExclusions = await network.findFreePort(3000, 3100, {
+    exclude: [3000, 3001, 3005]  // Skip these ports even if they're free
+  });
+  console.log(`🚫 Free port (excluding specific ports): ${portWithExclusions}`);
+  
+  // Combine randomize with exclude options
+  const randomWithExclusions = await network.findFreePort(3000, 3100, {
+    randomize: true,
+    exclude: [3000, 3001, 3005]
+  });
+  console.log(`🎲🚫 Random free port (with exclusions): ${randomWithExclusions}`);
 };
 ```
 
@@ -333,6 +346,7 @@ interface SmartNetworkOptions {
 
 interface IFindFreePortOptions {
   randomize?: boolean;  // If true, returns a random free port instead of the first one
+  exclude?: number[];   // Array of port numbers to exclude from the search
 }
 
 interface Hop {
diff --git a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index 16b7fce..40dfe7e 100644
--- a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@push.rocks/smartnetwork',
-  version: '4.3.0',
+  version: '4.4.0',
   description: 'A toolkit for network diagnostics including speed tests, port availability checks, and more.'
 }
diff --git a/ts/smartnetwork.classes.smartnetwork.ts b/ts/smartnetwork.classes.smartnetwork.ts
index 941e16b..598acb5 100644
--- a/ts/smartnetwork.classes.smartnetwork.ts
+++ b/ts/smartnetwork.classes.smartnetwork.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ export interface Hop {
 export interface IFindFreePortOptions {
   /** If true, selects a random available port within the range instead of the first one */
   randomize?: boolean;
+  /** Array of port numbers to exclude from the search */
+  exclude?: number[];
 }
 
 export class SmartNetwork {
@@ -169,12 +171,20 @@ export class SmartNetwork {
       throw new NetworkError('Start port must be less than or equal to end port', 'EINVAL');
     }
 
+    // Create a set of excluded ports for efficient lookup
+    const excludedPorts = new Set(options?.exclude || []);
+
     // If randomize option is true, collect all available ports and select randomly
     if (options?.randomize) {
       const availablePorts: number[] = [];
       
       // Scan the range to find all available ports
       for (let port = startPort; port <= endPort; port++) {
+        // Skip excluded ports
+        if (excludedPorts.has(port)) {
+          continue;
+        }
+        
         const isUnused = await this.isLocalPortUnused(port);
         if (isUnused) {
           availablePorts.push(port);
@@ -192,6 +202,11 @@ export class SmartNetwork {
     } else {
       // Default behavior: return the first available port (sequential search)
       for (let port = startPort; port <= endPort; port++) {
+        // Skip excluded ports
+        if (excludedPorts.has(port)) {
+          continue;
+        }
+        
         const isUnused = await this.isLocalPortUnused(port);
         if (isUnused) {
           return port;