diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7812ced
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Agent Instructions for dcrouter
+
+## Database & Migrations
+
+### Collection Names
+smartdata uses the **exact class name** as the MongoDB collection name. No lowercasing.
+- `StoredRouteDoc` → collection `StoredRouteDoc`
+- `TargetProfileDoc` → collection `TargetProfileDoc`
+- `RouteDoc` → collection `RouteDoc`
+
+When writing migrations in `ts_migrations/index.ts`, use the exact class name casing in `ctx.mongo!.collection('ClassName')` and `db.listCollections({ name: 'ClassName' })`.
+
+### Migration Rules
+- All DB schema migrations go EXCLUSIVELY in `ts_migrations/index.ts` as smartmigration steps.
+- NEVER put migration logic in application code (services, managers, startup hooks).
+- Migration step `.to()` version must match the release version so smartmigration can plan the step.
+- Steps must be idempotent — smartmigration may re-run them in skip-forward resume mode.
diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index ef0070e..9622029 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2026-04-13 - 13.16.1 - fix(migrations)
+use exact smartdata collection names in route unification migration
+
+- Update the 13.16.0 migration to rename StoredRouteDoc to RouteDoc using case-sensitive collection names
+- Apply the origin backfill against the RouteDoc collection and drop RouteOverrideDoc with matching class-name casing
+- Clarify migration description and comments to reflect smartdata's exact class-name collection mapping
+
 ## 2026-04-13 - 13.16.0 - feat(routes)
 unify route storage and management across config, email, dns, and API origins
 
diff --git a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index 27ca71a..914b5dc 100644
--- a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@serve.zone/dcrouter',
-  version: '13.16.0',
+  version: '13.16.1',
   description: 'A multifaceted routing service handling mail and SMS delivery functions.'
 }
diff --git a/ts_migrations/index.ts b/ts_migrations/index.ts
index 35e517f..d7a3105 100644
--- a/ts_migrations/index.ts
+++ b/ts_migrations/index.ts
@@ -95,30 +95,30 @@ export async function createMigrationRunner(
     })
     .step('unify-routes-rename-collection')
     .from('13.8.2').to('13.16.0')
-    .description('Rename storedroutedoc → routedoc, add origin field, drop routeoverridedoc')
+    .description('Rename StoredRouteDoc → RouteDoc, add origin field, drop RouteOverrideDoc')
     .up(async (ctx) => {
       const db = ctx.mongo!;
 
-      // 1. Rename storedroutedoc → routedoc
-      const collections = await db.listCollections({ name: 'storedroutedoc' }).toArray();
+      // 1. Rename StoredRouteDoc → RouteDoc (smartdata uses exact class names)
+      const collections = await db.listCollections({ name: 'StoredRouteDoc' }).toArray();
       if (collections.length > 0) {
-        await db.renameCollection('storedroutedoc', 'routedoc');
-        ctx.log.log('info', 'Renamed storedroutedoc → routedoc');
+        await db.renameCollection('StoredRouteDoc', 'RouteDoc');
+        ctx.log.log('info', 'Renamed StoredRouteDoc → RouteDoc');
       }
 
       // 2. Set origin='api' on all migrated docs (they were API-created)
-      const routeCol = db.collection('routedoc');
+      const routeCol = db.collection('RouteDoc');
       const result = await routeCol.updateMany(
         { origin: { $exists: false } },
         { $set: { origin: 'api' } },
       );
       ctx.log.log('info', `Set origin='api' on ${result.modifiedCount} migrated route(s)`);
 
-      // 3. Drop routeoverridedoc collection
-      const overrideCollections = await db.listCollections({ name: 'routeoverridedoc' }).toArray();
+      // 3. Drop RouteOverrideDoc collection
+      const overrideCollections = await db.listCollections({ name: 'RouteOverrideDoc' }).toArray();
       if (overrideCollections.length > 0) {
-        await db.collection('routeoverridedoc').drop();
-        ctx.log.log('info', 'Dropped routeoverridedoc collection');
+        await db.collection('RouteOverrideDoc').drop();
+        ctx.log.log('info', 'Dropped RouteOverrideDoc collection');
       }
     });
 
diff --git a/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index 27ca71a..914b5dc 100644
--- a/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@serve.zone/dcrouter',
-  version: '13.16.0',
+  version: '13.16.1',
   description: 'A multifaceted routing service handling mail and SMS delivery functions.'
 }