diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e.yml b/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
index 2ab1ed44421..b0db6ba65cc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
@@ -64,11 +64,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 
-      # Why: building once avoids five parallel electron-vite builds inside
-      # Playwright globalSetup, which otherwise contends for CPU/RAM on OSS
-      # runners before the sharded tests even start.
+      # Why: building here avoids parallel builds inside Playwright globalSetup;
+      # paired-browser specs also need the standalone web bundle.
       - name: Build Electron app for E2E
-        run: npx electron-vite build --mode e2e
+        env:
+          VITE_EXPOSE_STORE: 'true'
+        run: |
+          npx electron-vite build --mode e2e
+          pnpm run build:web
 
       - name: Upload E2E build output
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
diff --git a/config/scripts/release-e2e-dispatch-contract.test.mjs b/config/scripts/release-e2e-dispatch-contract.test.mjs
index b3a88d08bce..b5b0c4ddfdc 100644
--- a/config/scripts/release-e2e-dispatch-contract.test.mjs
+++ b/config/scripts/release-e2e-dispatch-contract.test.mjs
@@ -34,4 +34,14 @@ describe('release E2E dispatch contract', () => {
     expect(refInput.type).toBe('string')
     expect(refInput.required).toBe(false)
   })
+
+  it('includes the paired-runtime web client in the shared E2E build artifact', () => {
+    const buildStep = e2eWorkflow.jobs.build.steps.find(
+      (step) => step.name === 'Build Electron app for E2E'
+    )
+
+    expect(buildStep.run).toContain('electron-vite build --mode e2e')
+    expect(buildStep.env.VITE_EXPOSE_STORE).toBe('true')
+    expect(buildStep.run).toContain('pnpm run build:web')
+  })
 })