Better late than never!

After putting in six seasons as a Scandal recurring player, George Newbern is being promoted to a full-fledged series regular for the ABC’s drama’s upcoming seventh and final season, TVLine has learned.

Newbern joined Scandal in Season 1 as B-613 spy Charlie and has continued to recur through the current sixth

season, appearing in nearly 30 total episodes. Since his introduction, Charlie has (mostly) shed his shady ways, taking a job at OPA and planning a future with Quinn, his blushing bride-to-be — that is, assuming her lingering feelings for Huck don’t put a damper on the big day.

His status change comes as ABC is poised to officially announce that the Shonda Rhimes-created political thriller will be heading into its final season.

Scandal‘s two-hour Season 6 finale airs this Thursday at 9/8c.