diff --git a/omni/cluster-templates/talos.yaml b/omni/cluster-templates/talos.yaml
index 28e4538..0b1b255 100644
--- a/omni/cluster-templates/talos.yaml
+++ b/omni/cluster-templates/talos.yaml
@@ -3,9 +3,13 @@ name: oci-talos
 labels:
   environment: oci
 kubernetes:
+  # Not touched by the talos-images upgrade workflow — bump deliberately, one
+  # minor at a time. Talos 1.13.x supports k8s 1.31–1.36 (SupportedKubernetesVersions=6
+  # counting back from its 1.36.2 default), so this is valid as-is.
   version: v1.32.3
 talos:
-  version: v1.12.5
+  # Keep in step with installImage in omni/machine-classes/*.yaml.
+  version: v1.13.5
 patches:
   - file: ../patches/cni-none.yaml
   - file: ../patches/disable-kube-proxy.yaml