diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index a9ee8865728..fa68091494f 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -5404,6 +5404,34 @@ def _desktop_macos_relaunchable_fixup(desktop_dir: Path) -> None:
         print(f"  (warning: macOS relaunch fixup skipped: {exc})")
 
 
+def _force_adhoc_macos_signing(env: dict, *, source_mode: bool) -> bool:
+    """Stop electron-builder grabbing a random keychain identity on self-update.
+
+    The desktop self-updater rebuilds *and re-signs the .app on the end user's
+    machine* (``hermes desktop --build-only`` → electron-builder ``--dir``).
+    With ``CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY`` on (its default), electron-builder
+    signs the ``type=distribution``, hardened-runtime bundle with whatever it
+    finds in that user's keychain — typically a personal "Apple Development"
+    cert. That stalls/fails the sign step (no Developer ID + no provisioning
+    profile) or clobbers your real notarized signature with an unusable one, so
+    every post-update launch trips Gatekeeper.
+
+    Force ad-hoc signing for the local packaged rebuild instead: deterministic,
+    and exactly what ``_desktop_macos_relaunchable_fixup`` already finishes off.
+    No-op for source runs, off-macOS, when a real identity is configured
+    (``CSC_LINK`` / ``APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY``), or when the caller already
+    pinned the flag. Mutates ``env``; returns True when it set the flag.
+    """
+    if sys.platform != "darwin" or source_mode:
+        return False
+    if env.get("CSC_LINK") or env.get("APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY"):
+        return False
+    if "CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY" in env:
+        return False
+    env["CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY"] = "false"
+    return True
+
+
 def _desktop_linux_sandbox_fixup(packaged_executable: Path) -> bool:
     """Configure Electron's Linux SUID sandbox helper when required."""
     if sys.platform != "linux":
@@ -5535,6 +5563,9 @@ def cmd_gui(args: argparse.Namespace):
             build_label = "source build" if source_mode else "packaged app"
             print(f"→ Building desktop {build_label}...")
             build_script = "build" if source_mode else "pack"
+            if _force_adhoc_macos_signing(env, source_mode=source_mode):
+                print("  → No Developer ID configured; ad-hoc signing this local rebuild "
+                      "(CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY=false)")
             if not source_mode:
                 # A running desktop instance launched from release/win-unpacked
                 # holds Hermes.exe locked on Windows, so the pack can't replace
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gui_command.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gui_command.py
index 4995a7897ac..c488944855f 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gui_command.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gui_command.py
@@ -877,3 +877,40 @@ def test_stop_desktop_build_lock_no_release_dir(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     with patch("psutil.process_iter") as it:
         assert cli_main._stop_desktop_processes_locking_build(desktop_dir) == []
     it.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_force_adhoc_signing_disables_discovery_on_local_packaged_rebuild(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli_main.sys, "platform", "darwin")
+    env = {}
+    assert cli_main._force_adhoc_macos_signing(env, source_mode=False) is True
+    assert env["CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY"] == "false"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("platform", ["linux", "win32"])
+def test_force_adhoc_signing_noop_off_macos(monkeypatch, platform):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli_main.sys, "platform", platform)
+    env = {}
+    assert cli_main._force_adhoc_macos_signing(env, source_mode=False) is False
+    assert "CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY" not in env
+
+
+def test_force_adhoc_signing_noop_for_source_mode(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli_main.sys, "platform", "darwin")
+    env = {}
+    assert cli_main._force_adhoc_macos_signing(env, source_mode=True) is False
+    assert "CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY" not in env
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("key", ["CSC_LINK", "APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY"])
+def test_force_adhoc_signing_preserves_real_identity(monkeypatch, key):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli_main.sys, "platform", "darwin")
+    env = {key: "secret"}
+    assert cli_main._force_adhoc_macos_signing(env, source_mode=False) is False
+    assert "CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY" not in env
+
+
+def test_force_adhoc_signing_respects_explicit_caller_flag(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli_main.sys, "platform", "darwin")
+    env = {"CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY": "true"}
+    assert cli_main._force_adhoc_macos_signing(env, source_mode=False) is False
+    assert env["CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY"] == "true"