diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index fb2b476..1980c11 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
 
-      # Real build: typecheck + turbo across all workspace packages.
       - name: Typecheck
         run: bun run typecheck
 
@@ -35,9 +34,14 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: apps/web
         run: bun run build
 
-      - name: List .next contents
-        working-directory: apps/web
-        run: ls -la .next/ | head -10
+      # Upload immediately after build — before tests may modify .next.
+      # The deploy job copies this directly to the VPS — no build on VPS.
+      - name: Upload web build artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: mcpedia-web-build
+          path: apps/web/.next
+          if-no-files-found: error
 
       # Smoke: verify the MCP server + resources load and the indexer/module
       # graph resolves. Requires Postgres + Redis — only runs when available.
@@ -55,15 +59,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test
         run: bun run test
 
-      # Upload the built .next directory as a deploy artifact.
-      # The deploy job copies this directly to the VPS — no build needed there.
-      - name: Upload web build artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: mcpedia-web-build
-          path: ${{ github.workspace }}/apps/web/.next
-          retention-days: 1
-
   deploy:
     name: deploy to VPS
     needs: build