diff --git a/scripts/release/make_app.sh b/scripts/release/make_app.sh
index 0d86194..02a3443 100644
--- a/scripts/release/make_app.sh
+++ b/scripts/release/make_app.sh
@@ -147,12 +147,15 @@ for ext in svg png; do
     fi
 done
 
+FEATURED="$(specget '.featured')"
 META="$(jq -cn \
     --arg category "$CATEGORY" --arg description "$DESCRIPTION" \
     --arg long_description "$LONG_DESCRIPTION" \
-    --arg icon "$META_ICON" --arg icon_sha "$META_ICON_SHA" '
+    --arg icon "$META_ICON" --arg icon_sha "$META_ICON_SHA" \
+    --arg featured "$FEATURED" '
     {category:$category, description:$description, long_description:$long_description}
-    + (if $icon != "" then {icon:$icon, icon_sha256:$icon_sha} else {} end)')"
+    + (if $icon != "" then {icon:$icon, icon_sha256:$icon_sha} else {} end)
+    + (if $featured == "true" then {featured:true} else {} end)')"
 
 # --- build the envelope (§8.1 shape; type:"app", payload.kind:"bundle") -------
 envelope="$(jq -cn \