diff --git a/scripts/setup.sh b/scripts/setup.sh
index 2bdb5cf1..e020d253 100755
--- a/scripts/setup.sh
+++ b/scripts/setup.sh
@@ -734,6 +734,21 @@ else
     if has claude; then ok "claude-code installed"; else warn "claude-code install failed"; fi
   fi
 
+  # The platform's Claude sidecar execs /usr/local/bin/claude (a stable, sandbox-visible path). The
+  # installer only drops the CLI in ~/.local/bin, so symlink it there — pointing at the ~/.local/bin
+  # launcher so it keeps tracking Claude's self-updates. Without this, claude chat ENOENTs on a fresh host.
+  CLAUDE_LOCAL="$HOME/.local/bin/claude"
+  if [ -e "$CLAUDE_LOCAL" ]; then
+    if [ "$(readlink -f /usr/local/bin/claude 2>/dev/null)" != "$(readlink -f "$CLAUDE_LOCAL")" ]; then
+      sudo ln -sf "$CLAUDE_LOCAL" /usr/local/bin/claude
+      ok "claude symlinked to /usr/local/bin/claude"
+    else
+      skip "claude symlink at /usr/local/bin/claude"
+    fi
+  else
+    warn "claude not found at $CLAUDE_LOCAL — /usr/local/bin/claude symlink skipped"
+  fi
+
   # pm2 (process manager)
   if has pm2; then
     skip "pm2"