diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
index e4fff6d5b..1a4947e5a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
@@ -149,11 +149,11 @@ export function registerStart(program: Command): void {
           if (opts?.dashboard !== false) {
             // Pre-flight: only check port/build when actually starting the dashboard
             await preflight.checkPort(port);
-            await preflight.checkBuilt();
             const webDir = findWebDir();
             if (!existsSync(resolve(webDir, "package.json"))) {
               throw new Error("Could not find @composio/ao-web package. Run: pnpm install");
             }
+            await preflight.checkBuilt();
 
             if (opts?.rebuild) {
               await cleanNextCache(webDir);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/preflight.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/preflight.ts
index 8a808a4ba..faaa5e451 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/preflight.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/preflight.ts
@@ -3,46 +3,43 @@
  *
  * Validates runtime prerequisites before entering the main command flow,
  * giving clear errors instead of cryptic failures.
+ *
+ * All checks throw on failure so callers can catch and handle uniformly.
  */
 
 import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import { resolve } from "node:path";
-import chalk from "chalk";
 import { isPortAvailable, findWebDir } from "./web-dir.js";
 import { exec } from "./shell.js";
 
 /**
  * Check that the dashboard port is free.
- * Exits with a clear message if it's already in use.
+ * Throws if the port is already in use.
  */
 async function checkPort(port: number): Promise<void> {
   const free = await isPortAvailable(port);
   if (!free) {
-    console.error(
-      chalk.red(
-        `Port ${port} is already in use. Free it or change 'port' in agent-orchestrator.yaml.`,
-      ),
+    throw new Error(
+      `Port ${port} is already in use. Free it or change 'port' in agent-orchestrator.yaml.`,
     );
-    process.exit(1);
   }
 }
 
 /**
  * Check that packages have been built (the web .next directory exists).
- * Exits with a clear message if not.
+ * Throws if not built.
  */
 async function checkBuilt(): Promise<void> {
   const webDir = findWebDir();
   const buildId = resolve(webDir, ".next", "BUILD_ID");
   if (!existsSync(buildId)) {
-    console.error(chalk.red("Packages not built. Run: pnpm build"));
-    process.exit(1);
+    throw new Error("Packages not built. Run: pnpm build");
   }
 }
 
 /**
  * Check that tmux is installed (required for the default runtime).
- * Throws with a clear message if not.
+ * Throws if not installed.
  */
 async function checkTmux(): Promise<void> {
   try {
@@ -53,11 +50,17 @@ async function checkTmux(): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 /**
- * Check that the GitHub CLI is authenticated.
- * Only relevant when the project uses the github tracker plugin.
- * Throws with a clear message if not authenticated.
+ * Check that the GitHub CLI is installed and authenticated.
+ * Distinguishes between "not installed" and "not authenticated"
+ * so the user gets the right troubleshooting guidance.
  */
 async function checkGhAuth(): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    await exec("gh", ["--version"]);
+  } catch {
+    throw new Error("GitHub CLI (gh) is not installed. Install it: https://cli.github.com/");
+  }
+
   try {
     await exec("gh", ["auth", "status"]);
   } catch {