diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 597979f98..e7b7399dd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -211,8 +211,6 @@ jobs:
             .
             desktop/src-tauri
           save-if: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
-      - name: Start integration services
-        run: docker compose up -d postgres redis typesense minio minio-init
       - name: Get pnpm store directory
         id: pnpm-cache
         run: echo "STORE_PATH=$(pnpm store path --silent)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
@@ -246,63 +244,8 @@ jobs:
           key: playwright-${{ runner.os }}-${{ steps.pw-version.outputs.version }}
       - name: Desktop build
         run: just desktop-build
-      - name: Wait for integration services
-        run: |
-          wait_healthy() {
-            local service="$1"
-            local container="$2"
-            for attempt in $(seq 1 60); do
-              status=$(docker inspect --format='{{.State.Health.Status}}' "${container}" 2>/dev/null || echo "not_found")
-              if [ "${status}" = "healthy" ]; then
-                echo "${service} is healthy"
-                return 0
-              fi
-              sleep 2
-            done
-            docker logs "${container}" || true
-            return 1
-          }
-          wait_healthy "Postgres" "sprout-postgres"
-          wait_healthy "Redis" "sprout-redis"
-          wait_healthy "Typesense" "sprout-typesense"
-          wait_healthy "MinIO" "sprout-minio"
-      - name: Apply database schema
-        run: ./bin/pgschema apply --file schema/schema.sql --auto-approve
-        env:
-          PGHOST: localhost
-          PGPORT: "5432"
-          PGUSER: sprout
-          PGPASSWORD: sprout_dev
-          PGDATABASE: sprout
-      - name: Build relay
-        run: cargo build --profile ci -p sprout-relay
       - name: Start relay
-        run: |
-          nohup env \
-            DATABASE_URL=postgres://sprout:sprout_dev@localhost:5432/sprout \
-            REDIS_URL=redis://localhost:6379 \
-            TYPESENSE_URL=http://localhost:8108 \
-            TYPESENSE_API_KEY=sprout_dev_key \
-            RELAY_URL=ws://localhost:3000 \
-            SPROUT_BIND_ADDR=0.0.0.0:3000 \
-            SPROUT_REQUIRE_AUTH_TOKEN=false \
-            SPROUT_RECONCILE_CHANNELS=true \
-            SPROUT_GIT_PROBE_WRITERS=8 \
-            ./target/ci/sprout-relay > /tmp/sprout-relay.log 2>&1 &
-          echo $! > /tmp/sprout-relay.pid
-          for attempt in $(seq 1 60); do
-            if ! kill -0 "$(cat /tmp/sprout-relay.pid)" 2>/dev/null; then
-              cat /tmp/sprout-relay.log
-              exit 1
-            fi
-            status_code=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://127.0.0.1:3000/_readiness || true)
-            if [ "${status_code}" = "200" ]; then
-              exit 0
-            fi
-            sleep 1
-          done
-          cat /tmp/sprout-relay.log
-          exit 1
+        run: ./scripts/start-relay-for-tests.sh
       - name: Seed desktop e2e data
         run: bash scripts/setup-desktop-test-data.sh
       - name: Desktop relay-backed e2e
@@ -324,6 +267,32 @@ jobs:
           path: ${{ steps.pnpm-cache.outputs.STORE_PATH }}
           key: pnpm-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('**/pnpm-lock.yaml') }}
 
+  relay-e2e:
+    name: Relay E2E
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 20
+    needs: [changes]
+    if: github.event_name == 'push' || needs.changes.outputs.rust == 'true'
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@df4cb1c069e1874edd31b4311f1884172cec0e10 # v6
+      - uses: cashapp/activate-hermit@e49f5cb4dd64ff0b0b659d1d8df499595451155a # v1
+      - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@e18b497796c12c097a38f9edb9d0641fb99eee32 # v2
+        with:
+          save-if: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
+      - name: Start relay
+        run: ./scripts/start-relay-for-tests.sh
+      - name: Relay E2E tests
+        run: RELAY_URL=ws://localhost:3000 cargo test -p sprout-test-client --test '*' -- --ignored --nocapture
+      - name: Upload relay logs
+        if: failure()
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7
+        with:
+          name: relay-e2e-artifacts
+          path: /tmp/sprout-relay.log
+          if-no-files-found: ignore
+
   web:
     name: Web
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/crates/sprout-test-client/tests/e2e_persona.rs b/crates/sprout-test-client/tests/e2e_persona.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..78cf8d490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/sprout-test-client/tests/e2e_persona.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,451 @@
+//! End-to-end tests for kind:30175 persona events (NIP-AP).
+//!
+//! These tests verify the relay correctly handles persona events:
+//! - Accepts valid persona events with proper d-tag slugs
+//! - Enforces NIP-33 replacement semantics (same d-tag, newer timestamp wins)
+//! - Rejects invalid d-tag values (empty, too long, invalid characters)
+//!
+//! # Running
+//!
+//! Start the relay, then run:
+//!
+//! ```text
+//! RELAY_URL=ws://localhost:3000 cargo test --test e2e_persona -- --ignored
+//! ```
+
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use nostr::{Alphabet, EventBuilder, Filter, Keys, Kind, SingleLetterTag, Tag, Timestamp};
+use sprout_test_client::SproutTestClient;
+
+const PERSONA_KIND: u16 = 30175;
+
+fn relay_url() -> String {
+    std::env::var("RELAY_URL").unwrap_or_else(|_| "ws://localhost:3000".to_string())
+}
+
+fn sub_id(name: &str) -> String {
+    format!("e2e-persona-{name}-{}", uuid::Uuid::new_v4())
+}
+
+/// Build a minimal persona event with the given d-tag and content.
+fn persona_event(keys: &Keys, d_tag: &str, content: &str) -> nostr::Event {
+    EventBuilder::new(Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND), content)
+        .tags(vec![Tag::parse(["d", d_tag]).unwrap()])
+        .sign_with_keys(keys)
+        .unwrap()
+}
+
+/// Build a persona event with an explicit created_at timestamp.
+fn persona_event_at(keys: &Keys, d_tag: &str, content: &str, created_at: u64) -> nostr::Event {
+    EventBuilder::new(Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND), content)
+        .tags(vec![Tag::parse(["d", d_tag]).unwrap()])
+        .custom_created_at(Timestamp::from(created_at))
+        .sign_with_keys(keys)
+        .unwrap()
+}
+
+// ── Publish and query back ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_publish_and_query() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+    let d_tag = format!("test-persona-{}", &uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string()[..8]);
+
+    let content = serde_json::json!({
+        "name": &d_tag,
+        "display_name": "Test Persona",
+        "description": "A test persona for E2E validation"
+    })
+    .to_string();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    // Publish persona event
+    let event = persona_event(&keys, &d_tag, &content);
+    let ok = client
+        .send_event(event.clone())
+        .await
+        .expect("send persona");
+    assert!(ok.accepted, "relay rejected persona event: {}", ok.message);
+
+    // Query it back using NIP-33 filter (kind + author + d-tag)
+    let sid = sub_id("query");
+    let filter = Filter::new()
+        .kind(Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND))
+        .author(keys.public_key())
+        .custom_tags(SingleLetterTag::lowercase(Alphabet::D), [d_tag.as_str()]);
+
+    client
+        .subscribe(&sid, vec![filter])
+        .await
+        .expect("subscribe");
+
+    let events = client
+        .collect_until_eose(&sid, Duration::from_secs(5))
+        .await
+        .expect("collect events");
+
+    assert_eq!(events.len(), 1, "expected exactly one persona event");
+    let ev = &events[0];
+    assert_eq!(ev.content, content);
+    assert_eq!(ev.pubkey, keys.public_key());
+    assert_eq!(ev.kind, Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND));
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+// ── NIP-33 replacement semantics ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_nip33_replacement_newer_wins() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+    let d_tag = format!("replace-{}", &uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string()[..8]);
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    // Publish older version
+    let old_content = r#"{"name":"old","display_name":"Old","description":"Old version"}"#;
+    let old_event = persona_event_at(&keys, &d_tag, old_content, 1_700_000_000);
+    let ok = client.send_event(old_event).await.expect("send old");
+    assert!(ok.accepted, "relay rejected old event: {}", ok.message);
+
+    // Publish newer version with same d-tag
+    let new_content = r#"{"name":"new","display_name":"New","description":"New version"}"#;
+    let new_event = persona_event_at(&keys, &d_tag, new_content, 1_700_000_100);
+    let ok = client.send_event(new_event).await.expect("send new");
+    assert!(ok.accepted, "relay rejected new event: {}", ok.message);
+
+    // Query — should return only the newer event
+    let sid = sub_id("replace");
+    let filter = Filter::new()
+        .kind(Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND))
+        .author(keys.public_key())
+        .custom_tags(SingleLetterTag::lowercase(Alphabet::D), [d_tag.as_str()]);
+
+    client
+        .subscribe(&sid, vec![filter])
+        .await
+        .expect("subscribe");
+
+    let events = client
+        .collect_until_eose(&sid, Duration::from_secs(5))
+        .await
+        .expect("collect");
+
+    assert_eq!(events.len(), 1, "NIP-33: only newest event should remain");
+    let ev = &events[0];
+    assert_eq!(ev.content, new_content, "should be the newer version");
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_nip33_older_does_not_replace_newer() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+    let d_tag = format!("no-replace-{}", &uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string()[..8]);
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    // Publish newer version first
+    let new_content = r#"{"name":"new","display_name":"New","description":"Newer"}"#;
+    let new_event = persona_event_at(&keys, &d_tag, new_content, 1_700_000_200);
+    let ok = client.send_event(new_event).await.expect("send new");
+    assert!(ok.accepted, "relay rejected new event: {}", ok.message);
+
+    // Publish older version — relay should accept but not replace
+    let old_content = r#"{"name":"old","display_name":"Old","description":"Older"}"#;
+    let old_event = persona_event_at(&keys, &d_tag, old_content, 1_700_000_100);
+    let _ok = client.send_event(old_event).await.expect("send old");
+    // Note: relay may accept or reject the older event depending on implementation.
+    // The key assertion is that querying returns the newer one.
+
+    // Query — should still return the newer event
+    let sid = sub_id("no-replace");
+    let filter = Filter::new()
+        .kind(Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND))
+        .author(keys.public_key())
+        .custom_tags(SingleLetterTag::lowercase(Alphabet::D), [d_tag.as_str()]);
+
+    client
+        .subscribe(&sid, vec![filter])
+        .await
+        .expect("subscribe");
+
+    let events = client
+        .collect_until_eose(&sid, Duration::from_secs(5))
+        .await
+        .expect("collect");
+
+    assert_eq!(events.len(), 1, "should have exactly one event");
+    let ev = &events[0];
+    assert_eq!(ev.content, new_content, "newer event should persist");
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+// ── D-tag validation ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_rejects_empty_d_tag() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    let event = EventBuilder::new(
+        Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND),
+        r#"{"name":"x","display_name":"X","description":"X"}"#,
+    )
+    .tags(vec![Tag::parse(["d", ""]).unwrap()])
+    .sign_with_keys(&keys)
+    .unwrap();
+
+    let ok = client.send_event(event).await.expect("send");
+    assert!(!ok.accepted, "relay should reject persona with empty d-tag");
+    assert!(
+        ok.message.contains("empty") || ok.message.contains("d") || ok.message.contains("tag"),
+        "rejection message should mention d-tag issue, got: {}",
+        ok.message
+    );
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_rejects_missing_d_tag() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    // No d-tag at all
+    let event = EventBuilder::new(
+        Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND),
+        r#"{"name":"x","display_name":"X","description":"X"}"#,
+    )
+    .sign_with_keys(&keys)
+    .unwrap();
+
+    let ok = client.send_event(event).await.expect("send");
+    assert!(!ok.accepted, "relay should reject persona without d-tag");
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_rejects_d_tag_too_long() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    // 65 characters — exceeds the 64-char limit
+    let long_slug = "a".repeat(65);
+    let event = persona_event(
+        &keys,
+        &long_slug,
+        r#"{"name":"x","display_name":"X","description":"X"}"#,
+    );
+    let ok = client.send_event(event).await.expect("send");
+    assert!(
+        !ok.accepted,
+        "relay should reject persona with d-tag > 64 chars"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        ok.message.contains("long") || ok.message.contains("64"),
+        "rejection should mention length, got: {}",
+        ok.message
+    );
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_rejects_d_tag_uppercase() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    let event = persona_event(
+        &keys,
+        "My-Persona",
+        r#"{"name":"x","display_name":"X","description":"X"}"#,
+    );
+    let ok = client.send_event(event).await.expect("send");
+    assert!(
+        !ok.accepted,
+        "relay should reject persona with uppercase d-tag"
+    );
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_rejects_d_tag_special_chars() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    let event = persona_event(
+        &keys,
+        "my.persona!",
+        r#"{"name":"x","display_name":"X","description":"X"}"#,
+    );
+    let ok = client.send_event(event).await.expect("send");
+    assert!(
+        !ok.accepted,
+        "relay should reject persona with special chars in d-tag"
+    );
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_rejects_d_tag_starting_with_underscore() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    // Slug must start with [a-z0-9], not underscore
+    let event = persona_event(
+        &keys,
+        "_invalid",
+        r#"{"name":"x","display_name":"X","description":"X"}"#,
+    );
+    let ok = client.send_event(event).await.expect("send");
+    assert!(
+        !ok.accepted,
+        "relay should reject persona with d-tag starting with underscore"
+    );
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_accepts_valid_slugs() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    // Various valid slug patterns
+    let valid_slugs = [
+        "a",
+        "my-persona",
+        "persona_v2",
+        "0-starts-with-digit",
+        "a-b-c-d-e",
+        "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa", // exactly 64 chars
+    ];
+
+    for slug in valid_slugs {
+        let content = format!(
+            r#"{{"name":"{}","display_name":"Test","description":"Valid slug test"}}"#,
+            slug
+        );
+        let event = persona_event(&keys, slug, &content);
+        let ok = client.send_event(event).await.expect("send");
+        assert!(
+            ok.accepted,
+            "relay should accept valid slug '{}', got rejection: {}",
+            slug, ok.message
+        );
+    }
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
+
+// ── Multiple personas per author ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_persona_multiple_per_author() {
+    let url = relay_url();
+    let keys = Keys::generate();
+
+    let mut client = SproutTestClient::connect(&url, &keys)
+        .await
+        .expect("connect");
+
+    // Publish two different personas (different d-tags)
+    let slug_a = format!("persona-a-{}", &uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string()[..8]);
+    let slug_b = format!("persona-b-{}", &uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string()[..8]);
+
+    let event_a = persona_event(
+        &keys,
+        &slug_a,
+        r#"{"name":"a","display_name":"Persona A","description":"First"}"#,
+    );
+    let event_b = persona_event(
+        &keys,
+        &slug_b,
+        r#"{"name":"b","display_name":"Persona B","description":"Second"}"#,
+    );
+
+    let ok_a = client.send_event(event_a).await.expect("send A");
+    assert!(ok_a.accepted, "persona A rejected: {}", ok_a.message);
+
+    let ok_b = client.send_event(event_b).await.expect("send B");
+    assert!(ok_b.accepted, "persona B rejected: {}", ok_b.message);
+
+    // Query all personas by this author
+    let sid = sub_id("multi");
+    let filter = Filter::new()
+        .kind(Kind::Custom(PERSONA_KIND))
+        .author(keys.public_key());
+
+    client
+        .subscribe(&sid, vec![filter])
+        .await
+        .expect("subscribe");
+
+    let events = client
+        .collect_until_eose(&sid, Duration::from_secs(5))
+        .await
+        .expect("collect");
+
+    assert!(
+        events.len() >= 2,
+        "expected at least 2 persona events, got {}",
+        events.len()
+    );
+
+    client.disconnect().await.expect("disconnect");
+}
diff --git a/scripts/start-relay-for-tests.sh b/scripts/start-relay-for-tests.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..76a01d7ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/start-relay-for-tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# =============================================================================
+# start-relay-for-tests.sh — Start the Sprout relay and its backing services
+# =============================================================================
+# Shared script for CI jobs that need a running relay. Starts docker compose
+# services, waits for health, applies the schema, builds the relay, starts it,
+# and polls readiness.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./scripts/start-relay-for-tests.sh [--profile <cargo-profile>]
+#
+# Options:
+#   --profile <profile>   Cargo build profile (default: ci)
+#
+# Exports:
+#   RELAY_URL=ws://localhost:3000
+# =============================================================================
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}/.." && pwd)"
+
+# ── Defaults ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+CARGO_PROFILE="${CARGO_PROFILE:-ci}"
+
+# ── Parse args ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --profile)
+      CARGO_PROFILE="$2"
+      shift 2
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "Unknown option: $1" >&2
+      exit 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+# ── Colors ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+BLUE='\033[0;34m'
+GREEN='\033[0;32m'
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+NC='\033[0m'
+
+log()   { echo -e "${BLUE}[relay-test]${NC} $*"; }
+ok()    { echo -e "${GREEN}[relay-test]${NC} $*"; }
+err()   { echo -e "${RED}[relay-test]${NC} $*" >&2; }
+
+# ── Start docker compose services ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+cd "${REPO_ROOT}"
+
+log "Starting docker compose services..."
+docker compose up -d postgres redis typesense minio minio-init
+
+# ── Wait for services to be healthy ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+wait_healthy() {
+  local service="$1"
+  local container="$2"
+  log "Waiting for ${service}..."
+  for attempt in $(seq 1 60); do
+    status=$(docker inspect --format='{{.State.Health.Status}}' "${container}" 2>/dev/null || echo "not_found")
+    if [ "${status}" = "healthy" ]; then
+      ok "${service} is healthy"
+      return 0
+    fi
+    sleep 2
+  done
+  err "${service} did not become healthy within 120s"
+  docker logs "${container}" || true
+  return 1
+}
+
+wait_healthy "Postgres" "sprout-postgres"
+wait_healthy "Redis" "sprout-redis"
+wait_healthy "Typesense" "sprout-typesense"
+wait_healthy "MinIO" "sprout-minio"
+
+# ── Apply database schema ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+log "Applying database schema..."
+export PGHOST=localhost
+export PGPORT=5432
+export PGUSER=sprout
+export PGPASSWORD=sprout_dev
+export PGDATABASE=sprout
+
+./bin/pgschema apply --file schema/schema.sql --auto-approve
+ok "Schema applied"
+
+# ── Build relay ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+log "Building relay (profile: ${CARGO_PROFILE})..."
+cargo build --profile "${CARGO_PROFILE}" -p sprout-relay
+ok "Relay built"
+
+# ── Start relay ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+log "Starting relay..."
+nohup env \
+  DATABASE_URL=postgres://sprout:sprout_dev@localhost:5432/sprout \
+  REDIS_URL=redis://localhost:6379 \
+  TYPESENSE_URL=http://localhost:8108 \
+  TYPESENSE_API_KEY=sprout_dev_key \
+  RELAY_URL=ws://localhost:3000 \
+  SPROUT_BIND_ADDR=0.0.0.0:3000 \
+  SPROUT_REQUIRE_AUTH_TOKEN=false \
+  SPROUT_RECONCILE_CHANNELS=true \
+  SPROUT_GIT_PROBE_WRITERS=8 \
+  "./target/${CARGO_PROFILE}/sprout-relay" > /tmp/sprout-relay.log 2>&1 &
+echo $! > /tmp/sprout-relay.pid
+
+# ── Poll readiness ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+log "Waiting for relay readiness..."
+for attempt in $(seq 1 60); do
+  if ! kill -0 "$(cat /tmp/sprout-relay.pid)" 2>/dev/null; then
+    err "Relay process died"
+    cat /tmp/sprout-relay.log
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  status_code=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://127.0.0.1:3000/_readiness || true)
+  if [ "${status_code}" = "200" ]; then
+    ok "Relay is ready at ws://localhost:3000"
+    export RELAY_URL=ws://localhost:3000
+    exit 0
+  fi
+  sleep 1
+done
+
+err "Relay did not become ready within 60s"
+cat /tmp/sprout-relay.log
+exit 1