diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index ed59233..8021902 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2026-03-23 - 6.3.1 - fix(watcher)
+unref lingering FSWatcher handles after stopping the node watcher
+
+- Ensures chokidar file watcher handles do not keep the process running after watcher shutdown
+- Works around chokidar v5 behavior where close() can resolve before all fs.watch() handles are fully released
+
 ## 2025-12-11 - 6.3.0 - feat(watchers)
 Integrate chokidar-based Node watcher, expose awaitWriteFinish options, and update docs/tests
 
diff --git a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index 0eede44..3dbb895 100644
--- a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@push.rocks/smartwatch',
-  version: '6.3.0',
+  version: '6.3.1',
   description: 'A cross-runtime file watcher with glob pattern support for Node.js, Deno, and Bun.'
 }
diff --git a/ts/watchers/watcher.node.ts b/ts/watchers/watcher.node.ts
index 78b8ef7..fd4e7e7 100644
--- a/ts/watchers/watcher.node.ts
+++ b/ts/watchers/watcher.node.ts
@@ -90,6 +90,14 @@ export class NodeWatcher implements IWatcher {
       this.watcher = null;
     }
 
+    // Unref any lingering FSWatcher handles from chokidar so they don't prevent process exit.
+    // Chokidar v5's close() resolves before all fs.watch() handles are fully released.
+    for (const handle of (process as any)._getActiveHandles()) {
+      if (handle?.constructor?.name === 'FSWatcher' && typeof handle.unref === 'function') {
+        handle.unref();
+      }
+    }
+
     this._isWatching = false;
     console.log('[smartwatch] Watcher stopped');
   }