diff --git a/meshchatx/meshchat.py b/meshchatx/meshchat.py
index 179fab81..3a8c98b5 100644
--- a/meshchatx/meshchat.py
+++ b/meshchatx/meshchat.py
@@ -20440,9 +20440,9 @@ def main():
 
     if args.self_check:
         results = reticulum_meshchat.run_self_test()
-        print("\n================================")
-        print("   System Self-Check Results")
-        print("================================")
+        print("\n================================", flush=True)
+        print("   System Self-Check Results", flush=True)
+        print("================================", flush=True)
 
         all_passed = True
         from meshchatx.src.backend.self_check import SELF_CHECK_LABELS
@@ -20450,20 +20450,20 @@ def main():
         for key, name in SELF_CHECK_LABELS.items():
             check = results.get(key, {"status": "failed", "reason": "No result"})
             if check["status"] == "ok":
-                print(f"[OK]     {name}")
+                print(f"[OK]     {name}", flush=True)
             else:
                 all_passed = False
                 reason = check.get("reason") or "Unknown error"
-                print(f"[FAILED] {name} - Reason: {reason}")
+                print(f"[FAILED] {name} - Reason: {reason}", flush=True)
 
-        print("================================")
+        print("================================", flush=True)
         if all_passed:
-            print("Status: SUCCESS (All checks passed)")
-            print("================================\n")
+            print("Status: SUCCESS (All checks passed)", flush=True)
+            print("================================\n", flush=True)
             sys.exit(0)
         else:
-            print("Status: FAILED")
-            print("================================\n")
+            print("Status: FAILED", flush=True)
+            print("================================\n", flush=True)
             sys.exit(1)
 
     if args.reset_password:
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/backend/bot_handler.py b/meshchatx/src/backend/bot_handler.py
index c54f11e3..29cf07ad 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/backend/bot_handler.py
+++ b/meshchatx/src/backend/bot_handler.py
@@ -398,10 +398,13 @@ class BotHandler:
                 if sys.platform.startswith("win"):
                     # Use absolute path if possible to avoid S607
                     taskkill = shutil.which("taskkill") or "taskkill"
+                    # Process may already have exited; suppress "not found" noise.
                     subprocess.run(
                         [taskkill, "/PID", str(pid), "/T", "/F"],
                         check=False,
                         timeout=5,
+                        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                        stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
                     )
                 else:
                     try:
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/backend/self_check.py b/meshchatx/src/backend/self_check.py
index 0163a2ed..4c980219 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/backend/self_check.py
+++ b/meshchatx/src/backend/self_check.py
@@ -181,25 +181,48 @@ def check_temp_filesystem() -> dict[str, str]:
                 os.unlink(path)
 
 
+def _is_frozen_executable() -> bool:
+    return bool(getattr(sys, "frozen", False))
+
+
+def _frontend_source_available() -> bool:
+    """True when running from a source tree with Vite frontend sources.
+
+    Built ``meshchatx/public/`` is gitignored and often absent in CI / E2E
+    (Vite serves the UI). Frozen desktop builds still require bundled public.
+    """
+    try:
+        package_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
+        frontend = os.path.join(package_dir, "src", "frontend")
+        return os.path.isdir(frontend) and os.path.isfile(
+            os.path.join(frontend, "main.js")
+        )
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+
 def check_public_assets(public_path_fn: Callable[[str], str]) -> dict[str, str]:
     try:
         root = public_path_fn("")
+        index_path = public_path_fn("index.html") if root else ""
+        if root and os.path.isdir(root):
+            if os.path.isfile(index_path):
+                return _status(True)
+            names = [n for n in os.listdir(root) if not n.startswith(".")]
+            if names:
+                return _status(True)
+
+        # Source / CI / E2E: no built public dir, but frontend sources exist.
+        if not _is_frozen_executable() and _frontend_source_available():
+            return _status(True)
+
         if not root or not os.path.isdir(root):
             return _status(False, f"Public assets directory missing: {root!r}")
-        index_path = public_path_fn("index.html")
-        if not os.path.isfile(index_path):
-            names = os.listdir(root)
-            if not names:
-                return _status(False, "Public assets directory is empty")
-        return _status(True)
+        return _status(False, "Public assets directory is empty")
     except Exception as exc:
         return _status(False, f"Public assets check failed: {exc}")
 
 
-def _is_frozen_executable() -> bool:
-    return bool(getattr(sys, "frozen", False))
-
-
 def check_meshchatx_run_module() -> dict[str, str]:
     """Verify ``--meshchatx-run-module`` re-entry used by bots/rnsh on frozen builds."""
     marker_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="meshchatx_run_module_check_")
diff --git a/tests/backend/test_self_check.py b/tests/backend/test_self_check.py
index d34790f7..1c013de4 100644
--- a/tests/backend/test_self_check.py
+++ b/tests/backend/test_self_check.py
@@ -64,12 +64,25 @@ def test_check_public_assets_ok(tmp_path):
     assert self_check.check_public_assets(public_path)["status"] == "ok"
 
 
-def test_check_public_assets_missing(tmp_path):
+def test_check_public_assets_allows_source_tree_without_build(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     missing = tmp_path / "nope"
 
     def public_path(name=""):
         return str(missing / name) if name else str(missing)
 
+    monkeypatch.setattr(self_check, "_is_frozen_executable", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(self_check, "_frontend_source_available", lambda: True)
+    assert self_check.check_public_assets(public_path)["status"] == "ok"
+
+
+def test_check_public_assets_missing_when_frozen(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    missing = tmp_path / "nope"
+
+    def public_path(name=""):
+        return str(missing / name) if name else str(missing)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(self_check, "_is_frozen_executable", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(self_check, "_frontend_source_available", lambda: False)
     result = self_check.check_public_assets(public_path)
     assert result["status"] == "failed"