1 files changed, 17 insertions, 8 deletions
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-client/src/main.js b/packages/meshbay-client/src/main.js
index 8dcc2ae..bfa9b48 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-client/src/main.js
+++ b/packages/meshbay-client/src/main.js
@@ -714,15 +714,28 @@ function registerBridge() {
     }
   });
 
+  function findNodeBinary() {
+    const local = path.join(os.homedir(), '.local', 'bin', 'meshbay-node');
+    if (fs.existsSync(local)) return local;
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      execFile('which', ['meshbay-node'], (err, stdout) => {
+        resolve(err ? null : stdout.trim());
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
   ipcMain.handle('node:installed', async () => {
     if (process.platform !== 'linux') return { installed: false };
-    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const unit = await new Promise((resolve) => {
       execFile('systemctl', ['--user', 'show', 'meshbay-node.service',
         '--property=LoadState'], (err, stdout) => {
-        if (err) return resolve({ installed: false });
-        resolve({ installed: stdout.trim() === 'LoadState=loaded' });
+        if (err) return resolve(false);
+        resolve(stdout.trim() === 'LoadState=loaded');
       });
     });
+    if (unit) return { installed: true };
+    const bin = await findNodeBinary();
+    return { installed: Boolean(bin) };
   });
 
   async function probeNode() {
@@ -826,11 +839,7 @@ function registerBridge() {
 
     // Fallback: start the binary directly (dev mode, or no unit installed).
     if (!launched) {
-      const binPath = await new Promise((resolve) => {
-        execFile('which', ['meshbay-node'], (err, stdout) => {
-          resolve(err ? null : stdout.trim());
-        });
-      });
+      const binPath = await findNodeBinary();
       if (!binPath) {
         throw new Error(
           'meshbay-node is not installed');