diff --git a/BACKLOG.md b/BACKLOG.md
index b6c36d4..d9ce8fb 100644
--- a/BACKLOG.md
+++ b/BACKLOG.md
@@ -171,10 +171,11 @@
 - **impact:** Catches the exact class of bug DC-033 fixed, plus any future refactor that re-introduces the __dirname antipattern.
 
 ### DC-036: Delete dead `dashcaddy-api/self-updater.js` (root copy) — 0 runtime callers
-- **status:** in-progress
+- **status:** done
 - **owner:** krystie
 - **details:** After DC-005 refactor (commit 283121e), there are TWO SelfUpdater implementations on disk: `/opt/dashcaddy/dashcaddy-api/self-updater.js` (md5 `79d566cc...`) and `/opt/dashcaddy/dashcaddy-api/src/docker/self-updater.js` (md5 `b3b61557...`). Both have drifted. **Zero runtime callers of the root copy** — verified by `grep -rn "require.*self-updater" dashcaddy-api/ --include="*.js"` which shows only `./src/docker/self-updater` (in server.js + src/app.js). The root copy is dead code from a prior refactor and a footgun for future contributors who edit the wrong file. Subagent flagged this independently. Fix: `git rm dashcaddy-api/self-updater.js` + verify `npx jest --passWithNoTests` still passes. Risk: very low. If a test does import it, the test itself is wrong and should be deleted or pointed at `./src/docker/self-updater`.
 - **impact:** Removes the wrong-file-edit footgun. Makes DC-035's test cleaner (only one SelfUpdater implementation to test).
+- **result:** Verified zero callers (grep + 38 test files scanned — no references to `./self-updater`). Discovered the file was actually gitignored, never committed — so `git rm` was unnecessary; plain `rm` did it. Tests: 1075/1075 still passing post-delete. Also synced `dashcaddy-api/VERSION` to `42376e2` (the DC-033 + release-bump commit) so the rebuilt container reports the right SHA. Live: `curl http://127.0.0.1:3001/api/v1/system/version` returns `{"name":"DashCaddy","version":"1.14.9","commit":"42376e2"}`.
 
 ### DC-037: Move `/etc/dashcaddy/sites/dashcaddy-api` symlink creation into the install script
 - **status:** todo
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/VERSION b/dashcaddy-api/VERSION
index 4f683c3..4754b08 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/VERSION
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-20d280f
+42376e2