diff --git a/src/cli/browser-cli-extension.ts b/src/cli/browser-cli-extension.ts
index cc3ceca2e..735d2e57a 100644
--- a/src/cli/browser-cli-extension.ts
+++ b/src/cli/browser-cli-extension.ts
@@ -16,10 +16,20 @@ function bundledExtensionRootDir() {
   const here = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
 
   // `here` is the directory containing this file.
-  // - In npm installs, that's typically `<packageRoot>/dist/cli`.
   // - In source runs/tests, it's typically `<packageRoot>/src/cli`.
+  // - In transpiled builds, it's typically `<packageRoot>/dist/cli`.
+  // - In bundled builds, it may be `<packageRoot>/dist`.
   // The bundled extension lives at `<packageRoot>/assets/chrome-extension`.
-  return path.resolve(here, "../../assets/chrome-extension");
+  //
+  // Prefer the most common layouts first and fall back if needed.
+  const candidates = [
+    path.resolve(here, "../assets/chrome-extension"),
+    path.resolve(here, "../../assets/chrome-extension"),
+  ];
+  for (const candidate of candidates) {
+    if (hasManifest(candidate)) return candidate;
+  }
+  return candidates[0]!;
 }
 
 function installedExtensionRootDir() {