diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos-release.yml b/.github/workflows/macos-release.yml
index 7a4921a..6045a9a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos-release.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install frontend dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      - name: Build frontend assets for Rust tests
+        run: npm run build
+
       - name: Smoke test HEIC and HEIF conversion
         run: cargo test --manifest-path src-tauri/Cargo.toml --lib heic_and_heif_complete_the_jpeg_and_pdf_pipeline