diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index 0b5e79fe9d9..121b77b0f91 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -1713,6 +1713,24 @@ def cmd_setup(args):
     run_setup_wizard(args)
 
 
+def cmd_postinstall(args):
+    """One-shot bootstrap for pip users: install non-Python deps + run setup."""
+    from hermes_cli.dep_ensure import ensure_dependency
+
+    print("⚕ Hermes post-install bootstrap")
+    print()
+
+    for dep in ("node", "browser", "ripgrep", "ffmpeg"):
+        ensure_dependency(dep)
+
+    if not _has_any_provider_configured():
+        print()
+        cmd_setup(args)
+    else:
+        print()
+        print("✓ Post-install complete.")
+
+
 def cmd_model(args):
     """Select default model — starts with provider selection, then model picker."""
     _require_tty("model")
@@ -9583,7 +9601,7 @@ _BUILTIN_SUBCOMMANDS = frozenset(
         "config", "cron", "curator", "dashboard", "debug", "doctor",
         "dump", "fallback", "gateway", "hooks", "import", "insights",
         "kanban", "login", "logout", "logs", "lsp", "mcp", "memory",
-        "model", "pairing", "plugins", "profile", "proxy", "sessions", "setup",
+        "model", "pairing", "plugins", "postinstall", "profile", "proxy", "sessions", "setup",
         "skills", "slack", "status", "tools", "uninstall", "update",
         "version", "webhook", "whatsapp", "chat",
         # Help-ish invocations — plugin commands not being listed in
@@ -10022,6 +10040,17 @@ def main():
     )
     setup_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_setup)
 
+    # =========================================================================
+    # postinstall command
+    # =========================================================================
+    postinstall_parser = subparsers.add_parser(
+        "postinstall",
+        help="Bootstrap non-Python deps for pip installs (node, browser, ripgrep, ffmpeg)",
+        description="One-shot post-install for pip users. Installs system "
+        "dependencies that pip cannot provide, then runs setup if needed.",
+    )
+    postinstall_parser.set_defaults(func=cmd_postinstall)
+
     # =========================================================================
     # whatsapp command
     # =========================================================================
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_managed_installs.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_managed_installs.py
index c6b5d792ce0..d2cf2947c6d 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_managed_installs.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_managed_installs.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ def test_format_managed_message_homebrew(monkeypatch):
 def test_recommended_update_command_defaults_to_hermes_update(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.delenv("HERMES_MANAGED", raising=False)
 
-    assert recommended_update_command() == "hermes update"
+    with patch("hermes_cli.config.detect_install_method", return_value="git"):
+        assert recommended_update_command() == "hermes update"
 
 
 def test_cmd_update_blocks_managed_homebrew(monkeypatch, capsys):
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_check.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_check.py
index 2bdc9b24621..92cd2d2e14c 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_check.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_check.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def test_check_for_updates_expired_cache(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
 
 
 def test_check_for_updates_no_git_dir(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
-    """Returns None when .git directory doesn't exist anywhere."""
+    """Falls back to PyPI check when .git directory doesn't exist anywhere."""
     import hermes_cli.banner as banner
 
     # Create a fake banner.py so the fallback path also has no .git
@@ -70,8 +70,9 @@ def test_check_for_updates_no_git_dir(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(banner, "__file__", str(fake_banner))
     monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
     with patch("hermes_cli.banner.subprocess.run") as mock_run:
-        result = banner.check_for_updates()
-    assert result is None
+        with patch("hermes_cli.banner._check_via_pypi", return_value=0):
+            result = banner.check_for_updates()
+    assert result == 0
     mock_run.assert_not_called()
 
 
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_gateway_restart.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_gateway_restart.py
index 34c878eca79..b53b1463624 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_gateway_restart.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_gateway_restart.py
@@ -178,8 +178,11 @@ class TestLaunchdPlistPath:
             raise AssertionError("PATH key not found in plist")
 
     def test_plist_path_includes_node_modules_bin(self):
+        node_bin_dir = gateway_cli.PROJECT_ROOT / "node_modules" / ".bin"
+        if not node_bin_dir.is_dir():
+            pytest.skip("node_modules/.bin not present in this checkout")
         plist = gateway_cli.generate_launchd_plist()
-        node_bin = str(gateway_cli.PROJECT_ROOT / "node_modules" / ".bin")
+        node_bin = str(node_bin_dir)
         lines = plist.splitlines()
         for i, line in enumerate(lines):
             if "<key>PATH</key>" in line.strip():