diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index c781de5..e83da45 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1652,7 +1652,7 @@ checksum = "09edd9e8b54e49e587e4f6295a7d29c3ea94d469cb40ab8ca70b288248a81db2"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_client"
-version = "0.22.35"
+version = "0.22.36"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-stream",
@@ -1686,7 +1686,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_common"
-version = "0.22.35"
+version = "0.22.36"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
@@ -1698,7 +1698,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_server"
-version = "0.22.35"
+version = "0.22.36"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index 1567f0a..c3e0964 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ path                    = "src/main.rs"
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_client"
-version                 = "0.22.35"
+version                 = "0.22.36"
 edition                 = "2024"
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/client/src/launcher/tests/ui_runtime.rs b/client/src/launcher/tests/ui_runtime.rs
index 066490e..c726d48 100644
--- a/client/src/launcher/tests/ui_runtime.rs
+++ b/client/src/launcher/tests/ui_runtime.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ use serial_test::serial;
 use std::{
     cell::RefCell,
     collections::BTreeMap,
+    fs,
+    path::PathBuf,
+    process,
     rc::Rc,
     time::{Duration, Instant},
 };
@@ -35,6 +38,93 @@ fn rail_button_text(button: &gtk::Button) -> Option<String> {
         .map(|label| label.text().to_string())
 }
 
+fn unique_test_path(label: &str) -> PathBuf {
+    let nanos = std::time::SystemTime::now()
+        .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
+        .expect("system clock before unix epoch")
+        .as_nanos();
+    std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+        "lesavka-relay-child-{label}-{}-{nanos}",
+        process::id()
+    ))
+}
+
+fn unique_test_file(label: &str) -> PathBuf {
+    let path = unique_test_path(label);
+    fs::write(&path, b"test executable placeholder").expect("write relay child test file");
+    path
+}
+
+fn unique_deleted_exe_path(label: &str) -> PathBuf {
+    let path = unique_test_path(label);
+    let deleted_path = path.with_file_name(format!(
+        "{} (deleted)",
+        path.file_name()
+            .expect("test path has file name")
+            .to_string_lossy()
+    ));
+    fs::write(&deleted_path, b"test executable placeholder")
+        .expect("write deleted relay child test file");
+    deleted_path
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn relay_child_exe_uses_current_exe_when_still_runnable() {
+    let current = unique_test_file("current");
+    let installed = unique_test_file("installed");
+
+    let resolved = resolve_relay_child_exe_from(None, &current, &installed)
+        .expect("resolve relay child executable");
+
+    assert_eq!(resolved, current);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn relay_child_exe_falls_back_when_launcher_exe_was_replaced() {
+    let current = unique_deleted_exe_path("current");
+    let installed = unique_test_file("installed");
+
+    let resolved = resolve_relay_child_exe_from(None, &current, &installed)
+        .expect("resolve relay child executable");
+
+    assert_eq!(resolved, installed);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn relay_child_exe_falls_back_when_current_exe_path_is_missing() {
+    let current = unique_test_path("missing-current");
+    let installed = unique_test_file("installed");
+
+    let resolved = resolve_relay_child_exe_from(None, &current, &installed)
+        .expect("resolve relay child executable");
+
+    assert_eq!(resolved, installed);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn relay_child_exe_honors_valid_env_override() {
+    let override_path = unique_test_file("override");
+    let current = unique_test_file("current");
+    let installed = unique_test_file("installed");
+
+    let resolved = resolve_relay_child_exe_from(Some(&override_path), &current, &installed)
+        .expect("resolve relay child executable");
+
+    assert_eq!(resolved, override_path);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn relay_child_exe_rejects_invalid_env_override() {
+    let override_path = unique_test_path("missing-override");
+    let current = unique_test_file("current");
+    let installed = unique_test_file("installed");
+
+    let err = resolve_relay_child_exe_from(Some(&override_path), &current, &installed)
+        .expect_err("invalid override should fail loudly");
+
+    assert!(err.to_string().contains(CLIENT_BIN_ENV));
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn local_test_detail_mentions_idle_and_running_modes() {
     assert!(local_test_detail(false, false, false, false).contains("idle"));
diff --git a/client/src/launcher/ui_runtime/process_logs.rs b/client/src/launcher/ui_runtime/process_logs.rs
index 9e0b986..1243b1f 100644
--- a/client/src/launcher/ui_runtime/process_logs.rs
+++ b/client/src/launcher/ui_runtime/process_logs.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+const CLIENT_BIN_ENV: &str = "LESAVKA_CLIENT_BIN";
+const INSTALLED_CLIENT_BIN: &str = "/usr/local/bin/lesavka-client";
+
 pub fn spawn_client_process(
     server_addr: &str,
     state: &LauncherState,
@@ -6,8 +9,8 @@ pub fn spawn_client_process(
     input_state_path: &Path,
     input_toggle_control_path: &Path,
 ) -> Result<RelayChild> {
-    let exe = std::env::current_exe()?;
-    let mut command = Command::new(exe);
+    let exe = resolve_relay_child_exe()?;
+    let mut command = Command::new(&exe);
     command.arg("--no-launcher");
     command.stdout(Stdio::piped());
     command.stderr(Stdio::piped());
@@ -54,7 +57,62 @@ pub fn spawn_client_process(
     for (key, value) in runtime_env_vars(state) {
         command.env(key, value);
     }
-    Ok(command.spawn()?)
+    let child = command.spawn().map_err(|err| {
+        anyhow::anyhow!("starting relay child {} failed: {err}", exe.display())
+    })?;
+    Ok(child)
+}
+
+fn resolve_relay_child_exe() -> Result<PathBuf> {
+    let env_override = std::env::var_os(CLIENT_BIN_ENV).map(PathBuf::from);
+    let current_exe = std::env::current_exe().map_err(|err| {
+        anyhow::anyhow!("resolving launcher executable for relay child failed: {err}")
+    })?;
+    resolve_relay_child_exe_from(
+        env_override.as_deref(),
+        &current_exe,
+        Path::new(INSTALLED_CLIENT_BIN),
+    )
+}
+
+fn resolve_relay_child_exe_from(
+    env_override: Option<&Path>,
+    current_exe: &Path,
+    installed_client: &Path,
+) -> Result<PathBuf> {
+    if let Some(override_path) = env_override
+        && !override_path.as_os_str().is_empty()
+    {
+        if override_path.is_file() {
+            return Ok(override_path.to_path_buf());
+        }
+        return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
+            "{CLIENT_BIN_ENV} points at {}, but that file is not runnable",
+            override_path.display()
+        ));
+    }
+
+    if relay_exe_path_is_runnable(current_exe) {
+        return Ok(current_exe.to_path_buf());
+    }
+
+    if installed_client.is_file() {
+        return Ok(installed_client.to_path_buf());
+    }
+
+    Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
+        "launcher executable {} is no longer runnable and fallback {} is missing; restart Lesavka or reinstall the client",
+        current_exe.display(),
+        installed_client.display()
+    ))
+}
+
+fn relay_exe_path_is_runnable(path: &Path) -> bool {
+    path.is_file()
+        && !path
+            .as_os_str()
+            .to_string_lossy()
+            .ends_with(" (deleted)")
 }
 
 pub fn attach_child_log_streams(child: &mut RelayChild, tx: Sender<String>) {
diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index 3f563b5..1b623c1 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_common"
-version = "0.22.35"
+version = "0.22.36"
 edition                 = "2024"
 build                   = "build.rs"
 
diff --git a/server/Cargo.toml b/server/Cargo.toml
index 520ff7f..4cbd54e 100644
--- a/server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/server/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ bench                   = false
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_server"
-version                 = "0.22.35"
+version                 = "0.22.36"
 edition                 = "2024"
 autobins                = false