diff --git a/core/version.py b/core/version.py
index 998e45d..9893231 100644
--- a/core/version.py
+++ b/core/version.py
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 ``setup.py`` when bumping.
 """
 
-APP_VERSION = "1.0.3"
\ No newline at end of file
+APP_VERSION = "1.0.4"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index c4f97ca..a61287a 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -197,17 +197,12 @@ def main() -> int:
     _log(f"start: pid={os.getpid()} argv={sys.argv}")
     _install_crash_logging()
     args = sys.argv[1:]
-    if "--cli" in args or (
-        args
-        and (
-            args[0] in cli.TOP_LEVEL_COMMANDS
-            or args[0] in ("--version", "--help", "-h")
-        )
-    ):
-        # Headless mode: no elevation prompt loop, no single-instance lock,
-        # no window. Exit codes and machine-readable output come from the
-        # cli module (modern top-level commands, the --cli compat alias and
-        # the global --version/--help flags all detour here).
+    if args:
+        # Any argument detours to headless mode: no elevation prompt loop,
+        # no single-instance lock, no window. Exit codes and machine-readable
+        # output come from the cli module (which also explains unknown args,
+        # so 'flint frobnicate' can never silently open a window). A bare
+        # launch with no arguments starts the GUI.
         return cli.main()
     _ensure_admin()
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 40faf5f..077ced5 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 setup(
     name="flint-native",
-    version="1.0.3",
+    version="1.0.4",
     description="Optional native writer extension for Flint",
     ext_modules=[
         Extension(
diff --git a/version_info.txt b/version_info.txt
index 1edd127..2f4cf46 100644
--- a/version_info.txt
+++ b/version_info.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 VSVersionInfo(
     ffi=FixedFileInfo(
-        filevers=(1, 0, 3, 0),
-        prodvers=(1, 0, 3, 0),
+        filevers=(1, 0, 4, 0),
+        prodvers=(1, 0, 4, 0),
         mask=0x3F,
         flags=0x0,
         OS=0x40004,
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ VSVersionInfo(
                     [
                         StringStruct("CompanyName", "Flint"),
                         StringStruct("FileDescription", "Flint — bootable USB writer"),
-                        StringStruct("FileVersion", "1.0.3"),
+                        StringStruct("FileVersion", "1.0.4"),
                         StringStruct("InternalName", "flint"),
                         StringStruct("OriginalFilename", "flint.exe"),
                         StringStruct("ProductName", "Flint"),
-                        StringStruct("ProductVersion", "1.0.3"),
+                        StringStruct("ProductVersion", "1.0.4"),
                     ],
                 )
             ]