diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 98e770466..b41efb1e0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ jobs:
               - "bun.lock"
               - "tsconfig*.json"
               - "Dockerfile*"
+              - ".github/workflows/**"
 
   build:
     name: Build
@@ -138,6 +139,77 @@ jobs:
       - run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
       - run: bun run --filter @hyperframes/core test:hyperframe-runtime-ci
 
+  smoke-global-install:
+    name: "Smoke: global install"
+    needs: [changes, build]
+    if: needs.changes.outputs.code == 'true'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 10
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          lfs: true
+      - uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: 22
+      - run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
+      - run: bun run build
+
+      # Pack the CLI as a tarball (simulates what `npm publish` produces)
+      - name: Pack CLI tarball
+        run: cd packages/cli && npm pack
+
+      # Install globally using --prefix to avoid sudo
+      - name: Install globally via npm
+        run: npm install -g --prefix /tmp/hf-smoke ./packages/cli/hyperframes-cli-*.tgz
+
+      # Scaffold a blank project
+      - name: Init blank project
+        run: |
+          export PATH="/tmp/hf-smoke/bin:$PATH"
+          mkdir /tmp/hf-project && cd /tmp/hf-project
+          hyperframes init test-project --example blank
+
+      # Start preview, probe the runtime endpoint, assert no esbuild errors
+      - name: Smoke-test preview server
+        run: |
+          export PATH="/tmp/hf-smoke/bin:$PATH"
+          cd /tmp/hf-project/test-project
+
+          # Start the preview server in the background; capture stderr
+          CI=true hyperframes preview --port 3099 2>/tmp/hf-stderr.log &
+          SERVER_PID=$!
+
+          # Wait for the server to be ready (up to 15 s)
+          for i in $(seq 1 30); do
+            if curl -sf http://localhost:3099/ >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+              break
+            fi
+            sleep 0.5
+          done
+
+          # Probe the runtime JS endpoint
+          BODY=$(curl -sf http://localhost:3099/api/runtime.js | head -c 200 || true)
+          if [ -z "$BODY" ]; then
+            echo "FAIL: /api/runtime.js returned empty response"
+            kill $SERVER_PID 2>/dev/null || true
+            cat /tmp/hf-stderr.log
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          kill $SERVER_PID 2>/dev/null || true
+          wait $SERVER_PID 2>/dev/null || true
+
+          # Assert stderr does not contain esbuild / runtime load errors
+          if grep -qE '✘ \[ERROR\]|Failed to load runtime' /tmp/hf-stderr.log; then
+            echo "FAIL: preview emitted runtime errors:"
+            cat /tmp/hf-stderr.log
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          echo "PASS: global install smoke test succeeded"
+
   semantic-pr-title:
     name: Semantic PR title
     if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5f127cdb1..b23d83d47 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ tmp/
 .tmp/
 
 # Generated files
+packages/core/src/generated/
 packages/producer/src/services/fontData.generated.ts
 
 # Test artifacts
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/server/runtimeSource.ts b/packages/cli/src/server/runtimeSource.ts
index 7bc74ed17..258dbd997 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/server/runtimeSource.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/server/runtimeSource.ts
@@ -6,23 +6,14 @@ const ARTIFACT_NAMES = ["hyperframe-runtime.js", "hyperframe.runtime.iife.js"];
 /**
  * Resolve the runtime JS source for the studio preview server.
  *
- * Two contexts exist:
+ * Three resolution strategies, in priority order:
  *
- *   Dev (monorepo workspace) — `entry.ts` exists next to `@hyperframes/core`
- *   source. We build from source via esbuild so edits to the runtime are
- *   reflected without a manual `bun run build`.
- *
- *   Installed (npm global / npx) — only `dist/` ships. We read the pre-built
- *   IIFE artifact that `build:runtime` copies alongside `cli.js`.
- *
- * The priority chain:
- *   1. esbuild from source  (dev only — gated on entry.ts existence)
- *   2. pre-built artifact    (alongside cli.js in dist/)
- *   3. core/dist artifact    (dev fallback if build:runtime already ran)
- *   4. node_modules walk     (nested install edge cases)
+ *   1. esbuild from source (dev only — gated on entry.ts existence)
+ *   2. Inlined constant    (production — baked into @hyperframes/core at build time)
+ *   3. Pre-built artifact  (fallback — reads IIFE file from dist/)
  */
 export async function loadRuntimeSource(): Promise<string | null> {
-  return (await buildFromSource()) ?? readPrebuiltArtifact();
+  return (await buildFromSource()) ?? (await getInlinedRuntime()) ?? readPrebuiltArtifact();
 }
 
 // ── Strategy 1: live build from source (dev only) ──────────────────────────
@@ -38,12 +29,26 @@ async function buildFromSource(): Promise<string | null> {
       if (source) return source;
     }
   } catch {
-    // esbuild failed — fall through to artifact
+    // esbuild failed — fall through to inlined / artifact
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+// ── Strategy 2: inlined constant from core build ──────────────────────────
+
+async function getInlinedRuntime(): Promise<string | null> {
+  try {
+    const mod = await import("@hyperframes/core");
+    if (typeof mod.getHyperframeRuntimeScript === "function") {
+      return mod.getHyperframeRuntimeScript() ?? null;
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // Not available — fall through to artifact
   }
   return null;
 }
 
-// ── Strategy 2-4: pre-built IIFE artifact ──────────────────────────────────
+// ── Strategy 3: pre-built IIFE artifact ───────────────────────────────────
 
 function readPrebuiltArtifact(): string | null {
   return readFromDir(__dirname) ?? readFromCoreDistDir() ?? readFromNodeModules();
diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index 7ef0bed3a..4d408afc2 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
     "types": "./dist/index.d.ts"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "build": "tsc && bun run build:hyperframes-runtime",
+    "build": "bun run build:hyperframes-runtime && tsc",
     "test": "vitest run",
     "test:watch": "vitest",
     "test:coverage": "vitest run --coverage",
diff --git a/packages/core/scripts/build-hyperframes-runtime-artifact.ts b/packages/core/scripts/build-hyperframes-runtime-artifact.ts
index bf556cfc1..3042e1770 100644
--- a/packages/core/scripts/build-hyperframes-runtime-artifact.ts
+++ b/packages/core/scripts/build-hyperframes-runtime-artifact.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ const iifePath = resolve(distDir, HYPERFRAME_RUNTIME_ARTIFACTS.iife);
 const esmPath = resolve(distDir, HYPERFRAME_RUNTIME_ARTIFACTS.esm);
 const manifestPath = resolve(distDir, HYPERFRAME_RUNTIME_ARTIFACTS.manifest);
 
-const runtimeSource = `${loadHyperframeRuntimeSource()}\n`;
+const runtimeSourceRaw = loadHyperframeRuntimeSource();
+if (runtimeSourceRaw === null) {
+  throw new Error("Cannot build runtime artifact: entry.ts not found at expected path");
+}
+const runtimeSource = `${runtimeSourceRaw}\n`;
 const runtimeSha256 = createHash("sha256").update(runtimeSource, "utf8").digest("hex");
 const buildId = process.env.HYPERFRAME_RUNTIME_BUILD_ID?.trim() || "dev";
 const runtimeEntryPath = resolve(thisDir, "../src/runtime/entry.ts");
@@ -47,6 +51,33 @@ writeFileSync(iifePath, runtimeSource, "utf8");
 writeFileSync(esmPath, esmSource, "utf8");
 writeFileSync(manifestPath, `${JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2)}\n`, "utf8");
 
+// ── Generate src/generated/runtime-inline.ts ──────────────────────────────
+// This file is compiled by tsc into dist/ and provides the production-safe
+// getHyperframeRuntimeScript() that returns the IIFE as a string constant —
+// no esbuild, no file I/O, no import.meta.url arithmetic.
+const generatedDir = resolve(thisDir, "../src/generated");
+mkdirSync(generatedDir, { recursive: true });
+const inlineModulePath = resolve(generatedDir, "runtime-inline.ts");
+const escapedSource = JSON.stringify(runtimeSourceRaw);
+writeFileSync(
+  inlineModulePath,
+  [
+    "// AUTO-GENERATED by scripts/build-hyperframes-runtime-artifact.ts — do not edit",
+    `const RUNTIME_IIFE: string = ${escapedSource};`,
+    "",
+    "/**",
+    " * Returns the pre-built hyperframe runtime IIFE as a string constant.",
+    " * This is the production-safe path: no esbuild, no file I/O,",
+    " * no import.meta.url arithmetic.",
+    " */",
+    "export function getHyperframeRuntimeScript(): string {",
+    "  return RUNTIME_IIFE;",
+    "}",
+    "",
+  ].join("\n"),
+  "utf8",
+);
+
 console.log(
   JSON.stringify({
     event: "hyperframe_runtime_artifacts_generated",
@@ -55,6 +86,7 @@ console.log(
     iifePath,
     esmPath,
     manifestPath,
+    inlineModulePath,
     sourceBytes: Buffer.byteLength(runtimeSource, "utf8"),
     esmBytes: Buffer.byteLength(esmSource, "utf8"),
     sha256: runtimeSha256,
diff --git a/packages/core/scripts/test-hyperframe-runtime-behavior.ts b/packages/core/scripts/test-hyperframe-runtime-behavior.ts
index 0ac5325f9..fa02f0c81 100644
--- a/packages/core/scripts/test-hyperframe-runtime-behavior.ts
+++ b/packages/core/scripts/test-hyperframe-runtime-behavior.ts
@@ -7,11 +7,15 @@ function assert(condition: unknown, message: string): void {
 }
 
 const baseline = buildHyperframesRuntimeScript();
+assert(baseline !== null, "buildHyperframesRuntimeScript() returned null — entry.ts not found");
 const parityEnabled = buildHyperframesRuntimeScript({ defaultParityMode: true });
+assert(parityEnabled !== null, "Parity-enabled build returned null");
 const parityDisabled = buildHyperframesRuntimeScript({ defaultParityMode: false });
+assert(parityDisabled !== null, "Parity-disabled build returned null");
 const withSourceUrl = buildHyperframesRuntimeScript({
   sourceUrl: "hyperframe.runtime.iife.js",
 });
+assert(withSourceUrl !== null, "Build with sourceUrl returned null");
 
 assert(baseline.includes("window.__player"), "Baseline runtime should include player contract");
 assert(parityEnabled.length > 0, "Parity-enabled build should produce non-empty runtime source");
diff --git a/packages/core/scripts/test-hyperframe-runtime-contract.ts b/packages/core/scripts/test-hyperframe-runtime-contract.ts
index e0c1cfb16..699dafb37 100644
--- a/packages/core/scripts/test-hyperframe-runtime-contract.ts
+++ b/packages/core/scripts/test-hyperframe-runtime-contract.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ function assert(condition: unknown, message: string): void {
 }
 
 const runtimeSource = loadHyperframeRuntimeSource();
+assert(runtimeSource !== null, "loadHyperframeRuntimeSource() returned null — entry.ts not found");
 
 const requiredSnippets = [
   "window.__player",
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 490cafc4e..eef7d3563 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ export {
   HYPERFRAME_CONTROL_ACTIONS,
   type HyperframeControlAction,
 } from "./inline-scripts/runtimeContract";
+export { getHyperframeRuntimeScript } from "./generated/runtime-inline";
 export {
   buildHyperframesRuntimeScript,
   type HyperframesRuntimeBuildOptions,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/inline-scripts/hyperframe.ts b/packages/core/src/inline-scripts/hyperframe.ts
index 698783339..9f2c2c311 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/inline-scripts/hyperframe.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/inline-scripts/hyperframe.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@ export const HYPERFRAME_RUNTIME_CONTRACT: HyperframeRuntimeContract = {
   messageSources: HYPERFRAME_BRIDGE_SOURCES,
 };
 
-export function loadHyperframeRuntimeSource(): string {
+export function loadHyperframeRuntimeSource(): string | null {
   return buildHyperframesRuntimeScript();
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/inline-scripts/hyperframesRuntime.engine.ts b/packages/core/src/inline-scripts/hyperframesRuntime.engine.ts
index 1d1e94cfc..a4335f547 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/inline-scripts/hyperframesRuntime.engine.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/inline-scripts/hyperframesRuntime.engine.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { buildSync } from "esbuild";
+import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, resolve } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 
@@ -17,10 +18,19 @@ function applyDefaultParityMode(script: string, enabled: boolean): string {
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Build the runtime IIFE from source via esbuild.
+ *
+ * Returns `null` when `entry.ts` does not exist at the resolved path —
+ * this happens in bundled / published contexts where only `dist/` ships.
+ * Callers must fall back to the pre-built artifact or the inlined constant.
+ */
 export function buildHyperframesRuntimeScript(
   options: HyperframesRuntimeBuildOptions = {},
-): string {
+): string | null {
   const entryPath = resolve(dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), "../runtime/entry.ts");
+  if (!existsSync(entryPath)) return null;
+
   const result = buildSync({
     entryPoints: [entryPath],
     bundle: true,
diff --git a/packages/engine/scripts/test-fitTextFontSize-browser.ts b/packages/engine/scripts/test-fitTextFontSize-browser.ts
index 0211ffcc0..c14935464 100644
--- a/packages/engine/scripts/test-fitTextFontSize-browser.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/scripts/test-fitTextFontSize-browser.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ async function main() {
   }
 
   const runtimeSource = buildHyperframesRuntimeScript({ minify: false });
+  assert(
+    runtimeSource !== null,
+    "buildHyperframesRuntimeScript returned null — entry.ts not found",
+  );
 
   const html = `<!DOCTYPE html>
 <html><head>