diff --git a/docs/mcp.md b/docs/mcp.md
index c58afee..e7f9b75 100644
--- a/docs/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/mcp.md
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ built-in fonts. Attached, the app's own fonts apply. The browser build has no sy
 Build the CLI first (`cargo build --release -p figcraft-cli`) and use the absolute path to
 `target/release/figcraft-cli`.
 
+The Linux AppImage bundles the CLI: `FigCraft.AppImage cli <args>` runs `figcraft-cli <args>`, so
+`/path/to/FigCraft.AppImage cli mcp` works wherever `/path/to/figcraft-cli mcp` appears below.
+
 ### Claude Code
 
 ```sh
diff --git a/docs/releasing.md b/docs/releasing.md
index 49b3bb6..7e9220f 100644
--- a/docs/releasing.md
+++ b/docs/releasing.md
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@ shared-mime-info file for `.figcraft`) and builds every format from it: `.tar.gz
 `.rpm` with [nfpm](https://nfpm.goreleaser.com/) (`nfpm.yaml` lists the dlopen'd runtime
 libraries as dependencies); and an `.AppImage` with update information and a `.zsync`, whose
 `AppRun` registers the desktop entry and icons on launch so Wayland docks show the right icon
-(`FIGCRAFT_NO_DESKTOP_INTEGRATION=1` opts out; covered by `apprun-test.sh`).
+(`FIGCRAFT_NO_DESKTOP_INTEGRATION=1` opts out; covered by `apprun-test.sh`) and runs the bundled
+`figcraft-cli` for `FigCraft.AppImage cli <args>`.
 `flatpak-bundle.sh` repackages the tarball into a `.flatpak` with
 `flatpak/ai.storyteller.figcraft.bundle.yml` (freedesktop 26.08). `flatpak/ai.storyteller.figcraft.yml`
 is the from-source manifest for a Flathub submission (not built in CI; vendor crates with
diff --git a/packaging/linux/AppRun b/packaging/linux/AppRun
index 7e4cacc..f329289 100755
--- a/packaging/linux/AppRun
+++ b/packaging/linux/AppRun
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 # (and whenever the AppImage's path changes) install the .desktop entry and the
 # hicolor icons into $XDG_DATA_HOME, then launch. Every failure here must leave
 # the launch untouched. Opt out with FIGCRAFT_NO_DESKTOP_INTEGRATION=1.
+#
+# `FigCraft.AppImage cli <args>` runs the bundled headless figcraft-cli with <args>
+# (e.g. `cli mcp`) instead of the app, without touching the desktop.
 
 set -u
 
@@ -68,5 +71,17 @@ integrate() {
   done
 }
 
+# The CLI is headless and its stdout may be a protocol stream (`cli mcp`): no
+# desktop integration, straight to the binary.
+if [ "${1:-}" = cli ]; then
+  shift
+  cli="$APPDIR/usr/bin/figcraft-cli"
+  if [ ! -x "$cli" ]; then
+    echo "figcraft: this AppImage was built without figcraft-cli" >&2
+    exit 127
+  fi
+  exec "$cli" "$@"
+fi
+
 integrate
 exec "$APPDIR/usr/bin/figcraft" "$@"
diff --git a/packaging/linux/apprun-test.sh b/packaging/linux/apprun-test.sh
index c392738..c6d98da 100755
--- a/packaging/linux/apprun-test.sh
+++ b/packaging/linux/apprun-test.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # Smoke test for packaging/linux/AppRun: the AppImage's desktop integration writes
 # and refreshes the host .desktop entry and icons, is idempotent, honours the opt-out
-# and an unwritable HOME, and always launches the app.
+# and an unwritable HOME, and always launches the app; `cli` runs figcraft-cli instead.
 #
 # Runs in seconds with no build (CI: .github/workflows/packaging-lint.yml).
 set -euo pipefail
@@ -95,4 +95,19 @@ out="$(APPIMAGE="$odd" "$APPDIR/AppRun" x)" || fail "launch with an odd path exi
 [ "$out" = "stub: x" ] || fail "odd path: $out"
 [ ! -e "$XDG_DATA_HOME" ] || fail "integrated an AppImage path that needs escaping"
 
+# 10. `cli <args>` runs figcraft-cli with the remaining arguments and integrates nothing.
+rm -rf "$XDG_DATA_HOME"
+out="$("$APPDIR/AppRun" cli mcp --attach 7979 2>&1)" && fail "cli ran without figcraft-cli in the AppDir"
+[ "$out" = "figcraft: this AppImage was built without figcraft-cli" ] || fail "missing cli: $out"
+printf '#!/bin/sh\necho "cli stub: $*"\n' >"$APPDIR/usr/bin/figcraft-cli"
+chmod +x "$APPDIR/usr/bin/figcraft-cli"
+out="$("$APPDIR/AppRun" cli mcp --attach 7979)" || fail "cli launch exited non-zero"
+[ "$out" = "cli stub: mcp --attach 7979" ] || fail "cli arguments not forwarded: $out"
+out="$("$APPDIR/AppRun" cli)" || fail "bare cli launch exited non-zero"
+[ "$out" = "cli stub: " ] || fail "bare cli output: $out"
+[ ! -e "$XDG_DATA_HOME" ] || fail "cli launch integrated the desktop"
+# Only the first argument selects the CLI.
+out="$("$APPDIR/AppRun" file.figcraft cli)" || fail "app launch with a later cli argument exited non-zero"
+[ "$out" = "stub: file.figcraft cli" ] || fail "later cli argument hijacked the launch: $out"
+
 echo "AppRun desktop integration ok"