diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 607cc20..79d64f9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,36 +1,20 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## [1.6.1a4](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/tree/1.6.1a4) (2025-09-12)
+## [1.7.1a2](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/tree/1.7.1a2) (2026-07-28)
 
-[Full Changelog](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/compare/1.6.1a3...1.6.1a4)
+[Full Changelog](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/compare/1.7.1a1...1.7.1a2)
 
 **Merged pull requests:**
 
-- Skip `module` installation when any dependency spec is configured [\#190](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/pull/190) ([NeonDaniel](https://github.com/NeonDaniel))
+- Patch package compatibility [\#196](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/pull/196) ([NeonDaniel](https://github.com/NeonDaniel))
 
-## [1.6.1a3](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/tree/1.6.1a3) (2025-09-12)
+## [1.7.1a1](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/tree/1.7.1a1) (2025-10-07)
 
-[Full Changelog](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/compare/1.6.1a2...1.6.1a3)
+[Full Changelog](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/compare/1.7.0...1.7.1a1)
 
 **Merged pull requests:**
 
-- Update automation and dependencies to prep for stable release [\#191](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/pull/191) ([NeonDaniel](https://github.com/NeonDaniel))
-
-## [1.6.1a2](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/tree/1.6.1a2) (2025-06-25)
-
-[Full Changelog](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/compare/1.6.1a1...1.6.1a2)
-
-**Merged pull requests:**
-
-- Implement status server [\#189](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/pull/189) ([NeonDaniel](https://github.com/NeonDaniel))
-
-## [1.6.1a1](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/tree/1.6.1a1) (2025-04-09)
-
-[Full Changelog](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/compare/1.6.0...1.6.1a1)
-
-**Merged pull requests:**
-
-- Refactor to include audio data for all MQ-originated requests [\#188](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/pull/188) ([NeonDaniel](https://github.com/NeonDaniel))
+- feat: disable mpris by default in neon-audio containers [\#193](https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/neon_audio/pull/193) ([mikejgray](https://github.com/mikejgray))
 
 
 
diff --git a/docker_overlay/etc/neon/neon.yaml b/docker_overlay/etc/neon/neon.yaml
index de1153c..ff95086 100644
--- a/docker_overlay/etc/neon/neon.yaml
+++ b/docker_overlay/etc/neon/neon.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ Audio:
       type: ovos_common_play
       active: true
       dbus_type: system
+      disable_mpris: true
     simple:
       type: ovos_audio_simple
       active: true
diff --git a/neon_audio/__init__.py b/neon_audio/__init__.py
index ad1eed0..310aac2 100644
--- a/neon_audio/__init__.py
+++ b/neon_audio/__init__.py
@@ -31,3 +31,29 @@
 import ovos_workshop.resource_files
 from ovos_utils.bracket_expansion import expand_template
 ovos_workshop.resource_files.expand_options = expand_template
+
+# ovos-utils 0.8.5 removed `ovos_utils.signal`, which ovos-audio 0.x imports at
+# module scope. Register a compat module backed by `neon_utils.signal_utils`
+# before anything imports `ovos_audio`.
+# TODO: Remove after migration to ovos-audio 1.2+ requirement
+from importlib.util import find_spec
+
+if find_spec("ovos_utils.signal") is None:
+    import sys
+    from types import ModuleType
+    import ovos_utils
+
+    def _check_for_signal(signal_name, sec_lifetime=0, *_, **__):
+        from neon_utils.signal_utils import check_for_signal
+        return check_for_signal(signal_name, sec_lifetime)
+
+    def _create_signal(signal_name, *_, **__):
+        from neon_utils.signal_utils import create_signal
+        return create_signal(signal_name)
+
+    _signal_compat = ModuleType("ovos_utils.signal")
+    _signal_compat.check_for_signal = _check_for_signal
+    _signal_compat.create_signal = _create_signal
+
+    sys.modules["ovos_utils.signal"] = _signal_compat
+    ovos_utils.signal = _signal_compat
diff --git a/requirements/requirements.txt b/requirements/requirements.txt
index f400d6b..85bbeaa 100644
--- a/requirements/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements/requirements.txt
@@ -16,3 +16,6 @@ ovos-ocp-m3u-plugin~=0.0,>=0.0.1
 ovos-ocp-rss-plugin~=0.0,>=0.0.2
 ovos-ocp-files-plugin~=0.13
 ovos-ocp-news-plugin~=0.0,>=0.0.3
+
+# Pin last ovos-lingua-franca release for Ukrainian support
+ovos-lingua-franca==0.4.8a13
diff --git a/version.py b/version.py
index e77f070..e413f14 100644
--- a/version.py
+++ b/version.py
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@
 # NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
 # SOFTWARE,  EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
-__version__ = "1.7.0"
+__version__ = "1.7.1"