diff --git a/.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml b/.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml
index 152a0d4e1..822a773ec 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml
@@ -103,14 +103,18 @@ jobs:
           p12-password: ${{ secrets.APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD }}
 
       - name: Build packaged app for macOS smoke
-        env:
-          APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY: ${{ secrets.APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY }}
-          APPLE_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID }}
-          APPLE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.APPLE_PASSWORD }}
-          APPLE_TEAM_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_TEAM_ID }}
-          TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY_PASSWORD }}
-        run: npm run tauri --workspace=@getpaseo/desktop build -- --target ${{ matrix.rust_target }}
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          app_path="packages/desktop/src-tauri/target/${{ matrix.rust_target }}/release/bundle/macos/Paseo.app/Contents/MacOS/Paseo"
+          if npm run tauri --workspace=@getpaseo/desktop build -- --target ${{ matrix.rust_target }}; then
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          if [[ -f "$app_path" ]]; then
+            echo "Smoke app created at $app_path despite tauri build exiting non-zero; continuing."
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          exit 1
 
       - name: Smoke check managed runtime for macOS
         env: