diff --git a/includes/class-settings.php b/includes/class-settings.php
index dd3952b..b86426d 100644
--- a/includes/class-settings.php
+++ b/includes/class-settings.php
@@ -125,15 +125,18 @@ final class Settings
     }
 
     /**
-     * Atomically increments the drop counter. `$mode` must be 'real' or 'dry_run';
+     * Increments the drop counter. `$mode` must be 'real' or 'dry_run';
      * any other value is a no-op (defensive — guards against typos in callers).
      * Performs rolling today→yesterday on date change.
+     *
+     * Note: not atomic under concurrent CF7 submissions — `update_option` is a
+     * read-modify-write. Acceptable for low-volume dashboard counters.
      */
     public static function increment_drop_counter(string $mode): void
     {
         if (!in_array($mode, ['real', 'dry_run'], true)) return;
         $c = self::get_drop_counters();
-        $today = date('Y-m-d');
+        $today = wp_date('Y-m-d');
         if ($c['today_date'] !== $today) {
             $c['real_yesterday'] = $c['real_today'];
             $c['dry_yesterday']  = $c['dry_today'];
@@ -157,7 +160,7 @@ final class Settings
 
     private static function default_drop_counters(): array
     {
-        $today = date('Y-m-d');
+        $today = wp_date('Y-m-d');
         return [
             'total'          => 0,
             'real_today'     => 0,
diff --git a/tests/SettingsCounterTest.php b/tests/SettingsCounterTest.php
index eb195d0..b32ec27 100644
--- a/tests/SettingsCounterTest.php
+++ b/tests/SettingsCounterTest.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ final class SettingsCounterTest extends Cf7stgTestCase
 
         Settings::increment_drop_counter('real');
         $c = Settings::get_drop_counters();
-        self::assertSame(date('Y-m-d'), $c['today_date']);
+        self::assertSame(wp_date('Y-m-d'), $c['today_date']);
         self::assertSame(5, $c['real_yesterday']);
         self::assertSame(1, $c['real_today']);
         self::assertSame(6, $c['total']);
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ final class SettingsCounterTest extends Cf7stgTestCase
         self::assertSame(0, $c['total']);
         self::assertSame(0, $c['real_today']);
         self::assertSame(0, $c['dry_today']);
-        self::assertSame(date('Y-m-d'), $c['reset_at']);
+        self::assertSame(wp_date('Y-m-d'), $c['reset_at']);
     }
 
     public function test_get_dry_run_drop_default_true_when_unset(): void