diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index feba24a..0f780b6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 
 All notable changes to PyTheory are documented here.
 
+## 0.40.8
+
+- **Fix hold() inflating duration** — `Note.beats` was returning the full
+  duration for held notes (`_hold=True`), causing `Part.total_beats` and
+  `Score.duration_ms` to overcount. A part with `hold(Sa, WHOLE * 4)` followed
+  by `add(Pa, QUARTER)` would report 17 beats instead of 1. Now held notes
+  return 0 beats, matching the renderer which already skipped advancing the
+  timeline for held notes.
+
 ## 0.40.7
 
 - **Expose missing Synth enum entries** — rhodes, wurlitzer, vibraphone,
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 5b92723..90c4f0a 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "pytheory"
-version = "0.40.7"
+version = "0.40.8"
 description = "Music Theory for Humans"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/pytheory/rhythm.py b/pytheory/rhythm.py
index ef8700b..ecae19e 100644
--- a/pytheory/rhythm.py
+++ b/pytheory/rhythm.py
@@ -475,6 +475,8 @@ class Note:
 
     @property
     def beats(self) -> float:
+        if self._hold:
+            return 0.0
         return self.duration.value