diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1980c11..5206208 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -34,13 +34,21 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: apps/web
         run: bun run build
 
-      # Upload immediately after build — before tests may modify .next.
-      # The deploy job copies this directly to the VPS — no build on VPS.
+      - name: Verify .next exists
+        working-directory: apps/web
+        run: |
+          echo "=== .next contents ==="
+          find .next -maxdepth 1 -ls
+          echo "=== file count ==="
+          find .next -type f | wc -l
+
+      # Upload the built .next directory as a deploy artifact.
+      # The deploy job downloads this and copies to the VPS — no build on VPS.
       - name: Upload web build artifact
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: mcpedia-web-build
-          path: apps/web/.next
+          path: apps/web/.next/**
           if-no-files-found: error
 
       # Smoke: verify the MCP server + resources load and the indexer/module