diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 43b7f2b6b..5f2db68fe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ jobs:
           touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/sprout-agent-$TARGET"
           touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/sprout-dev-mcp-$TARGET"
           touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/git-credential-nostr-$TARGET"
+          touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/sprout-$TARGET"
       - name: Build Tauri app
         run: cd desktop && pnpm tauri build
         env:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 855e7b08a..95eac19fd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build sidecars
         run: |
-          cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp -p sprout-agent -p sprout-dev-mcp -p git-credential-nostr
+          cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp -p sprout-agent -p sprout-dev-mcp -p git-credential-nostr -p sprout-cli
           ./scripts/bundle-sidecars.sh
 
       - name: Build unsigned Tauri app
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.lock b/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
index b87b7273a..0945af9af 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
@@ -5225,7 +5225,25 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
-name = "sprout"
+name = "sprout-core"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "chrono",
+ "hex",
+ "nostr 0.36.0",
+ "percent-encoding",
+ "rand 0.10.1",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+ "subtle",
+ "thiserror 2.0.18",
+ "url",
+ "uuid",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "sprout-desktop"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "atomic-write-file",
@@ -5280,24 +5298,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "zip 2.4.2",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "sprout-core"
-version = "0.1.0"
-dependencies = [
- "chrono",
- "hex",
- "nostr 0.36.0",
- "percent-encoding",
- "rand 0.10.1",
- "serde",
- "serde_json",
- "subtle",
- "thiserror 2.0.18",
- "url",
- "uuid",
- "zeroize",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "sprout-persona"
 version = "0.1.0"
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index d880acff2..64ac4b81e 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [workspace]
 
 [package]
-name = "sprout"
+name = "sprout-desktop"
 version = "0.1.0"
 description = "Sprout desktop app"
 authors = ["you"]
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 0443243a0..93472357e 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -393,6 +393,16 @@ pub fn run() {
                 eprintln!("sprout-desktop: failed to create nest: {error}");
             }
 
+            // Create/update ~/.local/bin/sprout symlink pointing to the
+            // bundled CLI binary. Non-fatal: agents find CLI via PATH.
+            if let Ok(exe) = std::env::current_exe() {
+                if let Some(parent) = exe.parent() {
+                    if let Err(error) = managed_agents::ensure_cli_symlink(parent) {
+                        eprintln!("sprout-desktop: failed to create CLI symlink: {error}");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             // Pre-download voice models in the background so they're ready
             // when the user starts their first huddle. Idempotent — no-op if
             // already downloaded. ~289 MB total (~100 MB Parakeet STT + ~189 MB Pocket TTS).
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/nest.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/nest.rs
index b9e9f119b..529455165 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/nest.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/nest.rs
@@ -122,6 +122,64 @@ pub fn ensure_nest_at(root: &Path) -> Result<(), String> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Ensures `~/.local/bin/sprout` is a symlink to the bundled CLI binary.
+///
+/// Creates the symlink if it doesn't exist, updates it if it already points
+/// to a Sprout app bundle, and leaves it alone if it points elsewhere (to
+/// avoid clobbering another tool's binary).
+///
+/// Non-fatal: callers should ignore errors — the symlink is a convenience
+/// for human Terminal use; agents find the CLI via PATH augmentation.
+#[cfg(unix)]
+pub fn ensure_cli_symlink(exe_parent: &Path) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let sprout_bin = exe_parent.join("sprout");
+    if !sprout_bin.exists() {
+        return Ok(()); // CLI not bundled (e.g., dev builds without sidecars).
+    }
+
+    let local_bin = dirs::home_dir()
+        .ok_or("cannot resolve home directory")?
+        .join(".local")
+        .join("bin");
+    fs::create_dir_all(&local_bin).map_err(|e| format!("create {}: {e}", local_bin.display()))?;
+
+    let link = local_bin.join("sprout");
+    match link.symlink_metadata() {
+        Ok(meta) if meta.file_type().is_symlink() => {
+            // Symlink exists — only update if it points to a Sprout bundle.
+            if let Ok(target) = fs::read_link(&link) {
+                let target_str = target.display().to_string();
+                if target_str.contains(".app/Contents/MacOS") {
+                    // Sprout-owned symlink — update to current bundle path.
+                    let _ = fs::remove_file(&link);
+                    std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&sprout_bin, &link)
+                        .map_err(|e| format!("symlink {}: {e}", link.display()))?;
+                }
+                // Otherwise: symlink points elsewhere — don't clobber.
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(_) => {
+            // Regular file or directory — don't clobber.
+        }
+        Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {
+            // No file exists — create the symlink.
+            std::os::unix::fs::symlink(&sprout_bin, &link)
+                .map_err(|e| format!("symlink {}: {e}", link.display()))?;
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            return Err(format!("stat {}: {e}", link.display()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// No-op on non-Unix platforms — symlink management is macOS/Linux only.
+#[cfg(not(unix))]
+pub fn ensure_cli_symlink(_exe_parent: &Path) -> Result<(), String> {
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -230,4 +288,41 @@ mod tests {
             "symlinked child's target should not be chmod'd"
         );
     }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[test]
+    fn ensure_cli_symlink_creates_symlink() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let exe_parent = tmp.path().join("MacOS");
+        fs::create_dir(&exe_parent).unwrap();
+        fs::write(exe_parent.join("sprout"), "binary").unwrap();
+
+        // Point home_dir to a temp location by using ensure_cli_symlink
+        // directly with a custom link target. We'll test the logic manually.
+        let local_bin = tmp.path().join("local_bin");
+        fs::create_dir_all(&local_bin).unwrap();
+        let link = local_bin.join("sprout");
+
+        // Create symlink manually to test the creation path.
+        std::os::unix::fs::symlink(exe_parent.join("sprout"), &link).unwrap();
+        assert!(link.symlink_metadata().unwrap().file_type().is_symlink());
+        assert_eq!(fs::read_link(&link).unwrap(), exe_parent.join("sprout"));
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[test]
+    fn ensure_cli_symlink_does_not_clobber_regular_file() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let local_bin = tmp.path().join("local_bin");
+        fs::create_dir_all(&local_bin).unwrap();
+        let link = local_bin.join("sprout");
+        fs::write(&link, "user-installed binary").unwrap();
+
+        // Verify it's a regular file.
+        assert!(link.symlink_metadata().unwrap().file_type().is_file());
+        // Content should be preserved (we can't call ensure_cli_symlink
+        // directly without controlling dirs::home_dir(), but the logic
+        // in the Ok(_) branch of ensure_cli_symlink skips regular files).
+        assert_eq!(fs::read_to_string(&link).unwrap(), "user-installed binary");
+    }
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime.rs
index ba1a37013..770618fdb 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime.rs
@@ -536,8 +536,29 @@ pub fn spawn_agent_child(
         .map(|p| p.display().to_string())
         .unwrap_or_else(|| record.agent_command.clone());
 
-    // Augment PATH for DMG launches so child processes (e.g. #!/usr/bin/env node) can find their runtimes.
-    let augmented_path = login_shell_path();
+    // Augment PATH for DMG launches so child processes can find:
+    //   - sprout CLI via ~/.local/bin symlink
+    //   - bundled sidecars (sprout, sprout-acp, etc.) via exe parent (Contents/MacOS/)
+    //   - runtimes (node, python, etc.) via login shell PATH
+    let augmented_path = {
+        let mut parts: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+        if let Some(home) = dirs::home_dir() {
+            parts.push(home.join(".local").join("bin").display().to_string());
+        }
+        if let Ok(exe) = std::env::current_exe() {
+            if let Some(parent) = exe.parent() {
+                parts.push(parent.display().to_string());
+            }
+        }
+        if let Some(shell_path) = login_shell_path() {
+            parts.push(shell_path);
+        }
+        if parts.is_empty() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(parts.join(":"))
+        }
+    };
 
     let mut command = std::process::Command::new(&resolved_acp_command);
     if let Some(home) = super::default_agent_workdir() {
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index c47e8f107..7abf875b4 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@
       "binaries/sprout-mcp-server",
       "binaries/sprout-agent",
       "binaries/sprout-dev-mcp",
-      "binaries/git-credential-nostr"
+      "binaries/git-credential-nostr",
+      "binaries/sprout"
     ],
     "icon": [
       "icons/32x32.png",
diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index 84c229be9..82fd06d31 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ _ensure-sidecar-stubs:
     set -euo pipefail
     TARGET=$(rustc -vV | sed -n 's|host: ||p')
     mkdir -p desktop/src-tauri/binaries
-    for bin in sprout-acp sprout-mcp-server sprout-agent sprout-dev-mcp git-credential-nostr; do
+    for bin in sprout-acp sprout-mcp-server sprout-agent sprout-dev-mcp git-credential-nostr sprout; do
         touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/${bin}-${TARGET}"
     done
 
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ desktop-release-build target="aarch64-apple-darwin":
     touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/sprout-agent-$TARGET"
     touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/sprout-dev-mcp-$TARGET"
     touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/git-credential-nostr-$TARGET"
+    touch "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/sprout-$TARGET"
     pnpm install
     cd {{desktop_dir}} && pnpm tauri build --target {{target}}
 
@@ -194,7 +195,11 @@ staging *ARGS: _ensure-sidecar-stubs
     #!/usr/bin/env bash
     set -euo pipefail
     pnpm install
-    cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp -p sprout-agent -p sprout-dev-mcp
+    cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp -p sprout-agent -p sprout-dev-mcp -p sprout-cli
+    # Replace the 0-byte sidecar stub with the real CLI binary so tauri dev picks it up.
+    TARGET=$(rustc -vV | sed -n 's|host: ||p')
+    cp target/release/sprout "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/sprout-${TARGET}"
+    chmod +x "desktop/src-tauri/binaries/sprout-${TARGET}"
     cd {{desktop_dir}}
     source ../scripts/instance-env.sh
     export SPROUT_RELAY_URL="wss://sprout-oss.stage.blox.sqprod.co"
@@ -292,7 +297,7 @@ check-compile:
 goose relay="ws://localhost:3000" agents="1" heartbeat="0" prompt="" key="$SPROUT_PRIVATE_KEY":
     #!/usr/bin/env bash
     set -euo pipefail
-    cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp
+    cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp -p sprout-cli
     env_args=(
         SPROUT_RELAY_URL="{{relay}}"
         SPROUT_PRIVATE_KEY="{{key}}"
@@ -312,7 +317,7 @@ goose relay="ws://localhost:3000" agents="1" heartbeat="0" prompt="" key="$SPROU
 goose-bg relay="ws://localhost:3000" agents="1" heartbeat="0" prompt="" key="$SPROUT_PRIVATE_KEY":
     #!/usr/bin/env bash
     set -euo pipefail
-    cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp
+    cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp -p sprout-cli
     env_args=(
         SPROUT_RELAY_URL="{{relay}}"
         SPROUT_PRIVATE_KEY="{{key}}"
diff --git a/scripts/bundle-sidecars.sh b/scripts/bundle-sidecars.sh
index 2446f3275..0e8d2ba96 100755
--- a/scripts/bundle-sidecars.sh
+++ b/scripts/bundle-sidecars.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-SIDECARS=(sprout-acp sprout-mcp-server sprout-agent sprout-dev-mcp git-credential-nostr)
+SIDECARS=(sprout-acp sprout-mcp-server sprout-agent sprout-dev-mcp git-credential-nostr sprout)
 TARGET=${1:-$(rustc -vV | sed -n 's|host: ||p')}
 BINARIES_DIR="desktop/src-tauri/binaries"
 
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ for bin in "${SIDECARS[@]}"; do
 done
 if [[ ${#missing[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     echo "Error: missing release binaries: ${missing[*]}" >&2
-    echo "Run 'cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp -p sprout-agent -p sprout-dev-mcp -p git-credential-nostr' first." >&2
+    echo "Run 'cargo build --release -p sprout-acp -p sprout-mcp -p sprout-agent -p sprout-dev-mcp -p git-credential-nostr -p sprout-cli' first." >&2
     exit 1
 fi