diff --git a/.github/workflows/js-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/js-tests.yml
index acc0cadbba75..f14edd850fc0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/js-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/js-tests.yml
@@ -24,25 +24,3 @@ jobs:
           # --ignore-scripts: TS & tests don't need native deps
           command: npm ci --ignore-scripts
       - run: npm run --prefix ${{ matrix.package }} check
-
-  # Production build of the desktop renderer. `typecheck` runs `tsc` only,
-  # which does NOT exercise Vite/Rolldown module resolution — so an
-  # unresolvable package export (e.g. a transitive @assistant-ui/tap that no
-  # longer exports "./react-shim") slips past typecheck and only explodes when
-  # users build apps/desktop from source on install/update. Run the real
-  # `vite build` here so that class of break fails in CI instead.
-  desktop-build:
-    name: Build desktop app
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
-      - uses: actions/setup-node@49933ea5288caeca8642d1e84afbd3f7d6820020 # v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 22
-          cache: npm
-      # Keep install scripts here: the production build may need node-pty's
-      # native binary. retry handles the transient install-time fetch flakes.
-      - uses: ./.github/actions/retry
-        with:
-          command: npm ci
-      - run: npm run --prefix apps/desktop build
diff --git a/apps/desktop/package.json b/apps/desktop/package.json
index 0126b8c52b23..518dd5bbe632 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/package.json
+++ b/apps/desktop/package.json
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@
     "fmt": "prettier --write 'src/**/*.{ts,tsx}' 'electron/**/*.ts' 'vite.config.ts'",
     "fix": "npm run lint:fix && npm run fmt",
     "test:ui": "vitest run",
+    "check": "npm run typecheck && npm run test:ui && npm run test:desktop:all && npm run build"
     "preview": "node scripts/assert-root-install.mjs && vite preview --host 127.0.0.1 --port 4174",
-    "check": "npm run typecheck && npm run test:ui && npm run test:desktop:all"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@assistant-ui/react": "^0.12.28",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/scripts/test-desktop.mjs b/apps/desktop/scripts/test-desktop.mjs
index bbda8ec5ee4a..ec94ddc5e7fc 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/scripts/test-desktop.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop/scripts/test-desktop.mjs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ const APP = (() => {
   const unpacked = path.join(RELEASE_ROOT, 'linux-unpacked')
   return {
     appPath: unpacked,
-    binary: path.join(unpacked, 'hermes'),
+    binary: path.join(unpacked, 'Hermes'),
     resourcesPath: path.join(unpacked, 'resources'),
     asarPath: path.join(unpacked, 'resources', 'app.asar'),
     unpackedDistIndex: path.join(unpacked, 'resources', 'app.asar.unpacked', 'dist', 'index.html')
@@ -108,10 +108,9 @@ function expectedNativeDepPaths() {
 function ensurePlatformBuilds() {
   if (PLATFORM === 'darwin') return
   if (PLATFORM === 'win32') return
+  if (PLATFORM === 'linux') return
   die(
-    `Desktop bundle validation is only wired for darwin / win32 today; platform=${PLATFORM} ` +
-      `is not yet supported. The thin-installer story for Linux ships in Phase 2 alongside ` +
-      `install.sh's stage protocol.`
+    `Desktop bundle validation is only wired for darwin / win32 / linux; platform=${PLATFORM} is not supported.`
   )
 }