diff --git a/apps/internal-tool/package.json b/apps/internal-tool/package.json
index 41f51b147..98e4b49b4 100644
--- a/apps/internal-tool/package.json
+++ b/apps/internal-tool/package.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   "version": "2.8.80",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
-    "dev": "pnpm spacetime:publish:local && next dev --turbopack --port ${NEXT_PUBLIC_STACK_PORT_PREFIX:-81}41",
+    "dev": "node scripts/pre-dev.mjs && next dev --turbopack --port ${NEXT_PUBLIC_STACK_PORT_PREFIX:-81}41",
     "build": "next build",
     "start": "next start --port ${NEXT_PUBLIC_STACK_PORT_PREFIX:-81}41",
     "typecheck": "tsc --noEmit",
diff --git a/apps/internal-tool/scripts/pre-dev.mjs b/apps/internal-tool/scripts/pre-dev.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f8de81e6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/internal-tool/scripts/pre-dev.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+// Runs before `next dev`. Publishes the SpacetimeDB module to the local server
+// if the spacetime CLI is installed. Otherwise, warns and continues so the
+// dev server still starts (useful in CI and for contributors who haven't
+// installed the CLI yet).
+
+import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+
+const which = spawnSync(process.platform === "win32" ? "where" : "which", ["spacetime"], {
+  stdio: "ignore",
+});
+
+if (which.status !== 0) {
+  console.warn("\n[internal-tool] spacetime CLI not found, skipping publish.");
+  console.warn("[internal-tool] To install it: curl -sSf https://install.spacetimedb.com | sh\n");
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
+const publish = spawnSync("pnpm", ["spacetime:publish:local"], {
+  stdio: "inherit",
+});
+
+process.exit(publish.status ?? 1);