diff --git a/gitnexus-desktop/scripts/package.mjs b/gitnexus-desktop/scripts/package.mjs
index f84df654f..d4a3d5534 100644
--- a/gitnexus-desktop/scripts/package.mjs
+++ b/gitnexus-desktop/scripts/package.mjs
@@ -286,17 +286,25 @@ const rebuildPackagedNativeModules = () => {
   for (const resourceRoot of resourceRoots) {
     const packagedRuntimeRoot = path.join(resourceRoot, 'gitnexus');
     const packagedNodeModulesRoot = path.join(packagedRuntimeRoot, 'node_modules');
+    const packagedRuntimePackageJson = path.join(packagedRuntimeRoot, 'package.json');
 
     if (!fs.existsSync(packagedNodeModulesRoot)) {
       continue;
     }
 
+    if (!fs.existsSync(packagedRuntimePackageJson)) {
+      console.warn(
+        `[build] skipping native module rebuild because runtime package.json is missing at ${packagedRuntimePackageJson}`,
+      );
+      continue;
+    }
+
     const rebuildCommand = [
       `npx --yes -p @electron/rebuild@${electronRebuildVersion} electron-rebuild`,
       '--force',
       '--types prod,optional',
       `--version "${electronVersion}"`,
-      `--module-dir "${packagedNodeModulesRoot}"`,
+      `--module-dir "${packagedRuntimeRoot}"`,
       process.platform === 'win32' ? '--sequential' : '',
     ]
       .filter(Boolean)