diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index f6e69dd6..f2f196db 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ pnpm dev              # API server on :3005, Vite dev server on :5173
 
 You can run the two halves separately with `pnpm dev:server` and `pnpm dev:web`.
 
+Working on the **desktop** app additionally needs a C++ toolchain (`make`, `g++`,
+`python3`) to build the native `uiohook-napi` module — on Debian/Ubuntu:
+`sudo apt install build-essential python3`. Without it `pnpm install` just warns
+and skips that one rebuild; the server and web client are unaffected.
+
 Voice and video are optional and require a LiveKit server; see the README for
 configuration. Text, federation, uploads, and everything else run fully without
 it.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2a9630f5..79b9754b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -268,6 +268,14 @@ cp .env.example .env          # set JWT_SECRET (openssl rand -hex 32)
 pnpm dev                       # API server on :3005, Vite dev server on :5173
 ```
 
+> **Server/web only?** `pnpm install` also builds the desktop app's native
+> keyboard-hook module (`uiohook-napi`), which needs a C++ toolchain
+> (`make`, `g++`, `python3`). If those are missing it now **warns and continues** —
+> the server and web client don't need it. Install a build toolchain
+> (Debian/Ubuntu: `sudo apt install build-essential python3`) only if you're
+> building the **desktop** app. And to *self-host*, use the Docker installer
+> above — it never touches the desktop package.
+
 Run the halves separately if you prefer:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/packages/desktop/package.json b/packages/desktop/package.json
index 106e859f..70c152fa 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/package.json
+++ b/packages/desktop/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     "clean": "rm -rf dist dist-electron",
     "test": "vitest run",
     "test:watch": "vitest",
-    "postinstall": "electron-rebuild -f -w uiohook-napi"
+    "postinstall": "electron-rebuild -f -w uiohook-napi || node -e \"console.warn('[desktop] uiohook-napi native rebuild skipped - needs build tools (make, g++, python3). Only required to RUN the desktop app; the server, web client, and Docker image are unaffected.')\""
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "electron-updater": "^6.3.0",