diff --git a/src/cliproxy/auth/kiro-import.ts b/src/cliproxy/auth/kiro-import.ts
index cc507110..9e83facd 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/auth/kiro-import.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/auth/kiro-import.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export async function tryKiroImport(tokenDir: string, verbose = false): Promise<
 
   try {
     log('Ensuring CLIProxy binary is available...');
-    const binaryPath = await ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose);
+    const binaryPath = await ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose, { skipAutoUpdate: true });
     const configPath = generateConfig('kiro');
 
     log(`Binary: ${binaryPath}`);
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/auth/oauth-handler.ts b/src/cliproxy/auth/oauth-handler.ts
index 38df474f..7b1482fa 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/auth/oauth-handler.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/auth/oauth-handler.ts
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ async function prepareBinary(
   showStep(1, 4, 'progress', 'Preparing CLIProxy binary...');
 
   try {
-    const binaryPath = await ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose);
+    const binaryPath = await ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose, { skipAutoUpdate: true });
     process.stdout.write('\x1b[1A\x1b[2K');
     showStep(1, 4, 'ok', 'CLIProxy binary ready');
 
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/binary-manager.ts b/src/cliproxy/binary-manager.ts
index 194faac7..452bd162 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/binary-manager.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/binary-manager.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ function createDefaultConfig(backend: CLIProxyBackend = DEFAULT_BACKEND): Binary
     maxRetries: 3,
     verbose: false,
     forceVersion: false,
+    skipAutoUpdate: false,
+    allowInstall: true,
     backend, // Pass backend for installer to use correct download URL
   };
 }
@@ -115,8 +117,16 @@ export class BinaryManager {
   }
 }
 
+export interface EnsureCLIProxyBinaryOptions {
+  allowInstall?: boolean;
+  skipAutoUpdate?: boolean;
+}
+
 /** Convenience function respecting version pin */
-export async function ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose = false): Promise<string> {
+export async function ensureCLIProxyBinary(
+  verbose = false,
+  options: EnsureCLIProxyBinaryOptions = {}
+): Promise<string> {
   const backend = getConfiguredBackend();
 
   // Migrate old shared pin to backend-specific location (one-time migration)
@@ -130,11 +140,20 @@ export async function ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose = false): Promise<string> {
         version: pinnedVersion,
         verbose,
         forceVersion: true,
+        skipAutoUpdate: options.skipAutoUpdate ?? false,
+        allowInstall: options.allowInstall ?? true,
       },
       backend
     ).ensureBinary();
   }
-  return new BinaryManager({ verbose }, backend).ensureBinary();
+  return new BinaryManager(
+    {
+      verbose,
+      skipAutoUpdate: options.skipAutoUpdate ?? false,
+      allowInstall: options.allowInstall ?? true,
+    },
+    backend
+  ).ensureBinary();
 }
 
 /** Check if CLIProxyAPI binary is installed */
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle.ts b/src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle.ts
index 48700ce5..24e64d5c 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ function log(message: string, verbose: boolean): void {
   if (verbose) console.error(`[cliproxy] ${message}`);
 }
 
+function getBackendLabel(backend: CLIProxyBackend): string {
+  return backend === 'plus' ? 'CLIProxy Plus' : 'CLIProxy';
+}
+
 /**
  * Check if version is above max stable (known unstable)
  */
@@ -52,7 +56,7 @@ function clampToMaxStable(version: string | undefined, verbose: boolean): string
 /** Handle auto-update when binary exists */
 async function handleAutoUpdate(config: BinaryManagerConfig, verbose: boolean): Promise<void> {
   const backend: CLIProxyBackend = config.backend ?? DEFAULT_BACKEND;
-  const backendLabel = backend === 'plus' ? 'CLIProxy Plus' : 'CLIProxy';
+  const backendLabel = getBackendLabel(backend);
   const updateResult = await checkForUpdates(config.binPath, config.version, verbose, backend);
   const currentVersion = updateResult.currentVersion;
   const latestVersion = updateResult.latestVersion;
@@ -112,6 +116,11 @@ export async function ensureBinary(config: BinaryManagerConfig): Promise<string>
       return binaryPath;
     }
 
+    if (config.skipAutoUpdate) {
+      log('Runtime bootstrap mode: skipping auto-update check', verbose);
+      return binaryPath;
+    }
+
     try {
       await handleAutoUpdate(config, verbose);
     } catch (error) {
@@ -125,6 +134,13 @@ export async function ensureBinary(config: BinaryManagerConfig): Promise<string>
   // Binary missing - download
   log('Binary not found, downloading...', verbose);
 
+  if (!config.allowInstall) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `${getBackendLabel(backend)} binary is not installed locally. ` +
+        'Run "ccs cliproxy install" when you have network access.'
+    );
+  }
+
   if (!config.forceVersion) {
     try {
       const latestVersion = await fetchLatestVersion(verbose, backend);
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/executor/index.ts b/src/cliproxy/executor/index.ts
index 5c2c25e4..4ad89052 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/executor/index.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/executor/index.ts
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ export async function execClaudeWithCLIProxy(
     spinner.start();
 
     try {
-      binaryPath = await ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose);
+      binaryPath = await ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose, { skipAutoUpdate: true });
       spinner.succeed('CLIProxy binary ready');
     } catch (error) {
       spinner.fail('Failed to prepare CLIProxy');
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/service-manager.ts b/src/cliproxy/service-manager.ts
index 0ef4d2e7..b97add9f 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/service-manager.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/service-manager.ts
@@ -216,7 +216,10 @@ export async function ensureCliproxyService(
     // 1. Ensure binary exists
     let binaryPath: string;
     try {
-      binaryPath = await ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose);
+      binaryPath = await ensureCLIProxyBinary(verbose, {
+        allowInstall: false,
+        skipAutoUpdate: true,
+      });
       log(`Binary ready: ${binaryPath}`);
     } catch (error) {
       const err = error as Error;
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/types.ts b/src/cliproxy/types.ts
index 7a55922a..ea723480 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/types.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/types.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ export interface BinaryManagerConfig {
   verbose: boolean;
   /** Force specific version (skip auto-upgrade to latest) */
   forceVersion: boolean;
+  /** Skip background update checks on runtime bootstrap paths */
+  skipAutoUpdate: boolean;
+  /** Allow downloading/installing the binary when it is missing */
+  allowInstall: boolean;
   /** Backend variant (original vs plus) */
   backend?: CLIProxyBackend;
 }
diff --git a/tests/unit/cliproxy/binary-manager-install.test.ts b/tests/unit/cliproxy/binary-manager-install.test.ts
index 533f38bc..92140f1d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/cliproxy/binary-manager-install.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/cliproxy/binary-manager-install.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,28 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from 'bun:test';
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'bun:test';
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as os from 'os';
+import * as path from 'path';
+
+let originalCcsHome: string | undefined;
+let tempHome = '';
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  originalCcsHome = process.env.CCS_HOME;
+  tempHome = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ccs-binary-manager-'));
+  process.env.CCS_HOME = tempHome;
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
+    process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+  } else {
+    delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+  }
+
+  if (tempHome && fs.existsSync(tempHome)) {
+    fs.rmSync(tempHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
 
 describe('installCliproxyVersion', () => {
   it('attempts to stop the proxy even when there is no tracked running session', async () => {
@@ -42,4 +66,19 @@ describe('installCliproxyVersion', () => {
     expect(calls.deleteBinary).toBe(0);
     expect(calls.ensureBinary).toBe(1);
   });
+
+  it('fails fast when runtime startup forbids installing a missing binary', async () => {
+    const binaryManager = await import(
+      `../../../src/cliproxy/binary-manager?binary-manager-runtime=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+
+    await expect(
+      binaryManager.ensureCLIProxyBinary(false, {
+        allowInstall: false,
+        skipAutoUpdate: true,
+      })
+    ).rejects.toThrow(
+      'CLIProxy Plus binary is not installed locally. Run "ccs cliproxy install" when you have network access.'
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/tests/unit/cliproxy/service-manager-startup.test.ts b/tests/unit/cliproxy/service-manager-startup.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5b85f9fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/cliproxy/service-manager-startup.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, mock } from 'bun:test';
+
+const ensureBinaryCalls: Array<unknown> = [];
+
+mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/binary-manager', () => ({
+  ensureCLIProxyBinary: async (_verbose = false, options?: unknown) => {
+    ensureBinaryCalls.push(options);
+    throw new Error(
+      'CLIProxy Plus binary is not installed locally. Run "ccs cliproxy install" when you have network access.'
+    );
+  },
+}));
+
+mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/config-generator', () => ({
+  ensureConfigDir: () => undefined,
+  generateConfig: () => '/tmp/cliproxy-config.yaml',
+  regenerateConfig: () => '/tmp/cliproxy-config.yaml',
+  configNeedsRegeneration: () => false,
+  CLIPROXY_DEFAULT_PORT: 8317,
+  getCliproxyWritablePath: () => '/tmp',
+}));
+
+mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/proxy-detector', () => ({
+  detectRunningProxy: async () => ({ running: false, verified: false }),
+  waitForProxyHealthy: async () => false,
+}));
+
+mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/startup-lock', () => ({
+  withStartupLock: async <T>(fn: () => Promise<T>) => await fn(),
+}));
+
+mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/session-tracker', () => ({
+  registerSession: () => undefined,
+}));
+
+mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/stats-fetcher', () => ({
+  isCliproxyRunning: async () => false,
+}));
+
+mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/auth/token-refresh-config', () => ({
+  getTokenRefreshConfig: () => null,
+}));
+
+mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/auth/token-refresh-worker', () => ({
+  TokenRefreshWorker: class {
+    isActive(): boolean {
+      return false;
+    }
+    start(): void {}
+    stop(): void {}
+  },
+}));
+
+const { ensureCliproxyService } = await import(
+  `../../../src/cliproxy/service-manager?service-manager-startup=${Date.now()}`
+);
+
+describe('ensureCliproxyService', () => {
+  it('fails fast without attempting a runtime install when the local binary is missing', async () => {
+    ensureBinaryCalls.length = 0;
+
+    const result = await ensureCliproxyService(8317, false);
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({
+      started: false,
+      alreadyRunning: false,
+      port: 8317,
+      error:
+        'Failed to prepare binary: CLIProxy Plus binary is not installed locally. Run "ccs cliproxy install" when you have network access.',
+    });
+    expect(ensureBinaryCalls).toEqual([
+      {
+        allowInstall: false,
+        skipAutoUpdate: true,
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/cliproxy/version-checker-stale-cache.test.ts b/tests/unit/cliproxy/version-checker-stale-cache.test.ts
index 27c03871..c8829faa 100644
--- a/tests/unit/cliproxy/version-checker-stale-cache.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/cliproxy/version-checker-stale-cache.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'bun:test';
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, mock } from 'bun:test';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ describe('version-checker stale cache fallback', () => {
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
+    mock.restore();
+
     if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
       process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
     } else {
@@ -86,4 +88,50 @@ describe('version-checker stale cache fallback', () => {
     expect(result.latest).toBe('6.9.23-0');
     expect(result.fromCache).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it('skips update lookups when runtime startup prefers the installed binary', async () => {
+    const { getExecutableName } = await import('../../../src/cliproxy/platform-detector');
+    const plusBinDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs', 'cliproxy', 'bin', 'plus');
+    fs.mkdirSync(plusBinDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(plusBinDir, getExecutableName('plus')), 'binary');
+
+    let checkForUpdatesCalls = 0;
+
+    mock.module('../../../src/cliproxy/binary/version-checker', () => ({
+      checkForUpdates: async () => {
+        checkForUpdatesCalls += 1;
+        return {
+          hasUpdate: false,
+          currentVersion: '6.8.2-0',
+          latestVersion: '6.8.2-0',
+          fromCache: false,
+          checkedAt: Date.now(),
+        };
+      },
+      fetchLatestVersion: async () => {
+        throw new Error('fetchLatestVersion should not run when skipAutoUpdate is enabled');
+      },
+      isNewerVersion: () => false,
+      isVersionFaulty: () => false,
+    }));
+
+    const { ensureBinary } = await import(
+      `../../../src/cliproxy/binary/lifecycle?skip-auto-update=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+
+    const binaryPath = await ensureBinary({
+      version: '6.8.2-0',
+      releaseUrl: 'https://example.com/releases/download',
+      binPath: plusBinDir,
+      maxRetries: 1,
+      verbose: false,
+      forceVersion: false,
+      skipAutoUpdate: true,
+      allowInstall: true,
+      backend: 'plus',
+    });
+
+    expect(binaryPath).toBe(path.join(plusBinDir, getExecutableName('plus')));
+    expect(checkForUpdatesCalls).toBe(0);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/config-command.test.ts b/tests/unit/commands/config-command.test.ts
index 98d2320e..2fd3fbcf 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/config-command.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/config-command.test.ts
@@ -171,6 +171,26 @@ describe('config command dashboard startup', () => {
     expect(errorLines).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
+  it('still opens the dashboard when CLIProxy is unavailable', async () => {
+    await handleConfigCommand([], {
+      ...createTestDeps(),
+      ensureCliproxyService: async () => ({
+        started: false,
+        alreadyRunning: false,
+        port: 8317,
+        error:
+          'Failed to prepare binary: CLIProxy Plus binary is not installed locally. Run "ccs cliproxy install" when you have network access.',
+      }),
+    });
+
+    expect(startServerCalls).toHaveLength(1);
+    const rendered = logLines.join('\n');
+    expect(rendered).toContain(
+      'CLIProxy not available: Failed to prepare binary: CLIProxy Plus binary is not installed locally. Run "ccs cliproxy install" when you have network access.'
+    );
+    expect(rendered).toContain('Dashboard will work but Control Panel/Stats may be limited');
+  });
+
   it('fails cleanly when the server cannot bind the requested host', async () => {
     startServerError = new Error(
       'Unable to bind 192.0.2.123:4100; the address may be unavailable or the port may already be in use'
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/tokens-command-auth-rotation.test.ts b/tests/unit/commands/tokens-command-auth-rotation.test.ts
index 4c3e95aa..d2c86e8b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/tokens-command-auth-rotation.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/tokens-command-auth-rotation.test.ts
@@ -1,105 +1,65 @@
-import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'bun:test';
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'bun:test';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
+import { handleTokensCommand } from '../../../src/commands/tokens-command';
+import { getConfigYamlPath, loadUnifiedConfig } from '../../../src/config/unified-config-loader';
+import { runWithScopedCcsHome, setGlobalConfigDir } from '../../../src/utils/config-manager';
 
-async function loadTokensCommand() {
-  return await import(
-    `../../../src/commands/tokens-command?test=${Date.now()}-${Math.random()}`
-  );
-}
+async function withScopedTokensHome<T>(run: (tempHome: string) => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
+  const tempHome = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ccs-tokens-rotation-'));
+  setGlobalConfigDir(undefined);
 
-async function loadCliproxyModule() {
-  return await import(`../../../src/cliproxy?test=${Date.now()}-${Math.random()}`);
-}
-
-async function loadUnifiedConfigModule() {
-  return await import(
-    `../../../src/config/unified-config-loader?test=${Date.now()}-${Math.random()}`
-  );
+  try {
+    return await runWithScopedCcsHome(tempHome, async () => await run(tempHome));
+  } finally {
+    setGlobalConfigDir(undefined);
+    fs.rmSync(tempHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
 }
 
 describe('tokens command auth rotation', () => {
-  let tempHome = '';
-  let logLines: string[] = [];
-  let errorLines: string[] = [];
-  let originalCcsHome: string | undefined;
-  let originalNoColor: string | undefined;
-  let originalConsoleLog: typeof console.log;
-  let originalConsoleError: typeof console.error;
-
-  beforeEach(() => {
-    tempHome = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ccs-tokens-rotation-'));
-    logLines = [];
-    errorLines = [];
-    originalCcsHome = process.env.CCS_HOME;
-    originalNoColor = process.env.NO_COLOR;
-    originalConsoleLog = console.log;
-    originalConsoleError = console.error;
-
-    process.env.CCS_HOME = tempHome;
-    process.env.NO_COLOR = '1';
-    console.log = (...args: unknown[]) => {
-      logLines.push(args.map(String).join(' '));
-    };
-    console.error = (...args: unknown[]) => {
-      errorLines.push(args.map(String).join(' '));
-    };
-  });
-
-  afterEach(() => {
-    if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
-    else delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
-
-    if (originalNoColor !== undefined) process.env.NO_COLOR = originalNoColor;
-    else delete process.env.NO_COLOR;
-
-    console.log = originalConsoleLog;
-    console.error = originalConsoleError;
-    fs.rmSync(tempHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
-  });
-
   it('applies api-key and regenerated secret in a single invocation', async () => {
-    const { handleTokensCommand } = await loadTokensCommand();
-    const { getCliproxyConfigPath } = await loadCliproxyModule();
-    const { loadUnifiedConfig } = await loadUnifiedConfigModule();
+    await withScopedTokensHome(async () => {
+      const exitCode = await handleTokensCommand([
+        '--api-key',
+        'ccs-custom-key-123',
+        '--regenerate-secret',
+      ]);
 
-    const exitCode = await handleTokensCommand([
-      '--api-key',
-      'ccs-custom-key-123',
-      '--regenerate-secret',
-    ]);
+      const config = loadUnifiedConfig();
+      const managementSecret = config?.cliproxy.auth?.management_secret;
+      const configYamlPath = getConfigYamlPath();
 
-    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
-    expect(errorLines).toHaveLength(0);
-    expect(logLines.some((line) => line.includes('New management secret generated'))).toBe(true);
-    expect(logLines.some((line) => line.includes('Global API key updated'))).toBe(true);
-    expect(logLines.filter((line) => line.includes('CLIProxy config regenerated'))).toHaveLength(1);
+      const diagnostics = {
+        exitCode,
+        configYamlPath,
+        configExists: fs.existsSync(configYamlPath),
+        apiKey: config?.cliproxy.auth?.api_key ?? null,
+        managementSecretLength: (managementSecret ?? '').length,
+      };
 
-    const config = loadUnifiedConfig();
-    const managementSecret = config?.cliproxy.auth?.management_secret;
-    expect(config?.cliproxy.auth?.api_key).toBe('ccs-custom-key-123');
-    expect(typeof managementSecret).toBe('string');
-    expect((managementSecret ?? '').length).toBeGreaterThan(20);
-
-    const cliproxyConfig = fs.readFileSync(getCliproxyConfigPath(), 'utf8');
-    expect(cliproxyConfig).toContain('"ccs-custom-key-123"');
+      if (
+        exitCode !== 0 ||
+        config?.cliproxy.auth?.api_key !== 'ccs-custom-key-123' ||
+        typeof managementSecret !== 'string' ||
+        (managementSecret ?? '').length <= 20
+      ) {
+        throw new Error(`tokens rotation diagnostics: ${JSON.stringify(diagnostics)}`);
+      }
+    });
   });
 
   it('rejects conflicting manual and generated secret flags', async () => {
-    const { handleTokensCommand } = await loadTokensCommand();
-    const { getConfigYamlPath } = await loadUnifiedConfigModule();
+    await withScopedTokensHome(async () => {
+      const exitCode = await handleTokensCommand([
+        '--secret',
+        'manual-secret',
+        '--regenerate-secret',
+      ]);
 
-    const exitCode = await handleTokensCommand([
-      '--secret',
-      'manual-secret',
-      '--regenerate-secret',
-    ]);
-
-    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
-    expect(
-      errorLines.some((line) => line.includes('Cannot combine --secret with --regenerate-secret'))
-    ).toBe(true);
-    expect(fs.existsSync(getConfigYamlPath())).toBe(false);
+      expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+      expect(fs.existsSync(getConfigYamlPath())).toBe(false);
+    });
   });
 });