diff --git a/docs/guides/candidate-install.md b/docs/guides/candidate-install.md
index 19ed2cac7..ce5f703e8 100644
--- a/docs/guides/candidate-install.md
+++ b/docs/guides/candidate-install.md
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ also available; see [provider setup](native-candidate.md).
 
 Preflight reports runtime installation separately from project review, in text
 and in the JSON `runtime_setup` item. A fresh or interrupted home blocks startup
-with `hack native setup` as its fix. Noninteractive `up` refuses before starting
+with `native setup` as its fix, printed for the launcher you ran (see
+[Printed commands name your launcher](#printed-commands-name-your-launcher)). Noninteractive `up` refuses before starting
 an owner; interactive `up` offers the same pinned setup and continues only after
 successful setup and a fresh readiness check. Record readiness is a quick check;
 startup still verifies prepared content before executing it.
@@ -143,7 +144,8 @@ Diagram [source](native-first-use.mmd); rendered with Pele 1.9.0.
 Managed `hack-next` keeps its version's receipt-owned `native-home` so upgrades
 can find and stop its runtime. It refuses a differing `HACK_NATIVE_HOME` rather
 than silently ignoring it. Use that version's bundle `hack-v5` launcher for a
-custom home. To move a manual bundle's home, stop its projects and runtime using
+custom home; the refusal prints its path,
+`$HOME/.hack-next/versions/<version>/bundle/hack-v5`. To move a manual bundle's home, stop its projects and runtime using
 the old home and matching executor, preserve the old home for retained data, then
 select a fresh absolute `HACK_NATIVE_HOME` and run `native setup` again. Setup
 does not migrate live receipts, disks or project data. The machine home is
@@ -235,6 +237,23 @@ tracked `.hack/.internal/` paths. `hack doctor --fix` removes them from the Git
 index with `git rm --cached` and keeps the files on disk; commit that removal.
 See [ignore rules](../env.md#ignore-rules-committed-hackgitignore).
 
+### Printed commands name your launcher
+
+Stable v4 stays `hack` on your PATH, so a prerelease never tells you to run a
+bare `hack`. Commands it prints, such as the next steps of `upgrade check` and
+`upgrade apply`, the `native setup` fix and the Compose-backend hint, name the
+launcher the command ran through:
+
+| You ran | Printed commands start with |
+| --- | --- |
+| `hack-next` | your channel's launcher by full path, `$HOME/.hack-next/bin/hack-next` by default or `<root>/bin/hack-next` for a `--root` install (it is not on PATH) |
+| a bundle's `hack-v5` | that bundle's `hack-v5`, by its full path |
+| stable `hack` | `hack` |
+
+A Compose run also prints `HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose` in front. A custom
+`HACK_NATIVE_HOME` is the one exception: `hack-next` refuses it, so that fix
+names the selected bundle's `hack-v5` instead.
+
 ## Upgrade, roll back and return to stable
 
 The standalone manager runs through the launcher:
diff --git a/docs/guides/native-candidate.md b/docs/guides/native-candidate.md
index 22f3dba64..59fec5e87 100644
--- a/docs/guides/native-candidate.md
+++ b/docs/guides/native-candidate.md
@@ -221,8 +221,8 @@ The runtime review half needs a native runtime, so run the preflight from the
 `hack-next` launcher for the full list. Without native selection only the CLI's
 checks run and the review is reported as `skipped`. The review needs no running
 VM. A selected runtime also receives a read-only setup inspection. Incomplete or
-unavailable setup is a `native_runtime_setup` blocker; run `hack native setup`
-before retrying. Without native selection, setup is reported as unavailable.
+unavailable setup is a `native_runtime_setup` blocker; run the `native setup`
+command its fix prints (it names the launcher you used) before retrying. Without native selection, setup is reported as unavailable.
 
 Use a matching updated CLI and runtime. A runtime without start-admission review
 is reported as `unavailable` with an update hint and cannot produce `ready: true`.
diff --git a/docs/native/try-it.md b/docs/native/try-it.md
index 62fc95cf5..b0d0efb19 100644
--- a/docs/native/try-it.md
+++ b/docs/native/try-it.md
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ Ask Hack whether the project can run on native before you start it:
 
 `hack-next` selects the native backend by default. If the project uses a Compose
 feature that native does not support, `doctor` names it. Starting the project would
-refuse with `E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED` and change nothing. See
+refuse with `E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED` and change nothing. Both print the
+command that runs it on Compose instead, with the full `hack-next` path. See
 [Compose features that stay on Compose](limits.md#compose-features-that-stay-on-compose).
 
 ## 4. Run it
diff --git a/scripts/hack-v5.sh b/scripts/hack-v5.sh
index a8ee48eed..6027e6eee 100644
--- a/scripts/hack-v5.sh
+++ b/scripts/hack-v5.sh
@@ -56,8 +56,14 @@ if [ ! -x "$bundle/hack-cli" ] || [ ! -x "$bundle/hack-native" ]; then
   echo "Incomplete candidate bundle: hack-cli and hack-native are required." >&2
   exit 69
 fi
-# Candidate CLIs refuse self-update on either backend.
-export HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT=hack-v5
+# Candidate CLIs refuse self-update on either backend. The marker also names
+# the launcher printed commands should use: the channel manager runs this
+# script as `hack-next` (~/.hack-next/bin/hack-next) and that value is kept;
+# every other run is this script, `hack-v5`. No other value reaches the CLI.
+if [ "${HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT:-}" != hack-next ]; then
+  HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT=hack-v5
+fi
+export HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT
 # Candidate runs never start hackd implicitly: autostart would start the
 # stable hackd (launchd plist or the `hack` on PATH), on Compose beside the
 # candidate on the same Hack home (HACK-1368).
diff --git a/scripts/installer/channel.ts b/scripts/installer/channel.ts
index e4a84b0bd..40ec28516 100644
--- a/scripts/installer/channel.ts
+++ b/scripts/installer/channel.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 } from "node:fs";
 import { constants as osConstants } from "node:os";
 import { basename, dirname, join } from "node:path";
+import { quoteShellWord } from "../../src/lib/logs.ts";
 import {
   extractArchive,
   sameJson,
@@ -1038,7 +1039,8 @@ export class Channel {
       const override = process.env.HACK_NATIVE_HOME?.trim();
       requireThat(
         !override || override === this.path(`versions/${version}/native-home`),
-        "hack-next uses its receipt-owned native home for safe upgrades; use the bundle's hack-v5 launcher for a custom HACK_NATIVE_HOME."
+        // Name the selected bundle's script by path: it is not on PATH (HACK-2251).
+        `hack-next uses its receipt-owned native home for safe upgrades; for a custom HACK_NATIVE_HOME run the bundle's launcher directly: ${quoteShellWord(this.path(`versions/${version}/bundle/hack-v5`))}`
       );
     }
     const checksum = this.state.installed[version];
diff --git a/src/backends/native-runtime-setup.ts b/src/backends/native-runtime-setup.ts
index 273c8a095..786db6efc 100644
--- a/src/backends/native-runtime-setup.ts
+++ b/src/backends/native-runtime-setup.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 import { constants as osConstants } from "node:os";
 import { basename, join } from "node:path";
+import {
+  type CandidateLauncher,
+  currentCandidateLauncher,
+  freshNativeHomeSetupCommand,
+  launcherCommand,
+} from "../lib/candidate-launcher.ts";
 import { childEnvironment } from "../lib/child-environment.ts";
 import { HackCliError } from "../lib/cli-result.ts";
 import { isRecord } from "../lib/guards.ts";
@@ -46,21 +52,37 @@ const CODES: Readonly<Record<NativeSetupState, string>> = {
   unavailable: "native_setup_unavailable",
   unsupported_host: "unsupported_host",
 };
-const GUIDANCE: Readonly<Record<NativeSetupState, string>> = {
-  not_set_up: "Native runtime is not set up; run hack native setup.",
-  partial_resumable:
-    "Native runtime setup is incomplete; run hack native setup to resume.",
-  ready: "Native runtime is set up.",
-  invalid_preserved:
-    "Native runtime files are incomplete or invalid; preserve this home and select a fresh private HACK_NATIVE_HOME with the bundle's hack-v5 launcher before running hack native setup.",
-  pin_mismatch:
-    "Native runtime pins differ from this release; preserve this home for its matching release and select a fresh private HACK_NATIVE_HOME with the bundle's hack-v5 launcher.",
-  unsafe_home:
-    "Native runtime home is unsafe; select an owned mode-0700 home without symlink components using HACK_NATIVE_HOME.",
-  unavailable:
-    "Native runtime installation could not be inspected; check the selected home's access and retry.",
-  unsupported_host: "Native runtime requires Apple Silicon macOS.",
-};
+/**
+ * What to do next, naming the command for this install kind: `hack`,
+ * `~/.hack-next/bin/hack-next`, or the bundle's `hack-v5` by path (HACK-2251).
+ */
+function guidance(
+  state: NativeSetupState,
+  launcher: CandidateLauncher
+): string {
+  const setup = launcherCommand(launcher, ["native", "setup"]);
+  const fresh = freshNativeHomeSetupCommand(launcher);
+  switch (state) {
+    case "not_set_up":
+      return `Native runtime is not set up; run ${setup}.`;
+    case "partial_resumable":
+      return `Native runtime setup is incomplete; run ${setup} to resume.`;
+    case "ready":
+      return "Native runtime is set up.";
+    case "invalid_preserved":
+      return `Native runtime files are incomplete or invalid; preserve this home and set up a fresh private one with the bundle's launcher: ${fresh}.`;
+    case "pin_mismatch":
+      return `Native runtime pins differ from this release; preserve this home for its matching release and set up a fresh private one with the bundle's launcher: ${fresh}.`;
+    case "unsafe_home":
+      return "Native runtime home is unsafe; select an owned mode-0700 home without symlink components using HACK_NATIVE_HOME.";
+    case "unavailable":
+      return "Native runtime installation could not be inspected; check the selected home's access and retry.";
+    case "unsupported_host":
+      return "Native runtime requires Apple Silicon macOS.";
+    default:
+      return state satisfies never;
+  }
+}
 
 function state(value: unknown): NativeSetupState | undefined {
   return STATES.find((candidate) => candidate === value);
@@ -157,9 +179,10 @@ export async function inspectNativeSetup(opts: {
 }
 
 export function nativeSetupGuidance(
-  inspection: Pick<NativeSetupInspection, "state">
+  inspection: Pick<NativeSetupInspection, "state">,
+  launcher: CandidateLauncher = currentCandidateLauncher()
 ): string {
-  return GUIDANCE[inspection.state];
+  return guidance(inspection.state, launcher);
 }
 
 export function nativeSetupCanResume(
@@ -302,7 +325,7 @@ export async function requireNativeSetup(opts: {
   });
   if (exit !== 0) {
     process.stderr.write(
-      "Native runtime setup did not complete; run hack native setup to resume.\n"
+      `Native runtime setup did not complete; run ${launcherCommand(currentCandidateLauncher(), ["native", "setup"])} to resume.\n`
     );
     return exit;
   }
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor.ts b/src/commands/doctor.ts
index 92bcbaa7c..a9b1db056 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor.ts
@@ -3003,6 +3003,7 @@ async function checkComposeBackendFeatures(opts: {
   });
   return composeBackendCheckResult({
     backend: opts.backend,
+    projectRoot: ctx.projectRoot,
     buildsEnabled,
     features: reading.features,
     basicBuild: reading.basicBuild,
diff --git a/src/commands/project.ts b/src/commands/project.ts
index 9df3bb385..bd9baf6fb 100644
--- a/src/commands/project.ts
+++ b/src/commands/project.ts
@@ -6099,6 +6099,11 @@ async function handleNativeUp({
     }),
     restart,
     buildsEnabled: nativeBuildsEnabled(),
+    // The printed Compose fallback selects the same project and branch.
+    projectRoot: project.projectRoot,
+    branch:
+      typeof args.options.branch === "string" ? args.options.branch : undefined,
+    env: typeof args.options.env === "string" ? args.options.env : undefined,
   });
   const branch = await resolveEffectiveBranchForCommand({
     project,
diff --git a/src/commands/update.ts b/src/commands/update.ts
index 9056010e3..8cccbc9b3 100644
--- a/src/commands/update.ts
+++ b/src/commands/update.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ import {
   withHandler,
 } from "../cli/command.ts";
 import { optJson } from "../cli/options.ts";
+import {
+  type CandidateLauncher,
+  currentCandidateLauncher,
+  launcherCommand,
+} from "../lib/candidate-launcher.ts";
 import { emitCliResult } from "../lib/cli-result.ts";
 import { resolveGlobalHackDir } from "../lib/config-paths.ts";
 import { canPrompt } from "../lib/interactivity.ts";
@@ -81,6 +86,18 @@ const spec = defineCommand({
 
 type Spec = typeof spec;
 
+/**
+ * The refusal names how this install kind is updated (HACK-2251): `hack-next`
+ * through its channel manager; a bundle run directly, by installing a newer
+ * reviewed bundle (there is no command for that).
+ */
+export function candidateUpdateRefusal(launcher: CandidateLauncher): string {
+  if (launcher.kind === "hack-next") {
+    return `Refusing to self-update the opt-in native candidate. Upgrade it through its channel manager: ${launcherCommand(launcher, ["--manager", "upgrade", "--version"])} <newer prerelease> (${launcherCommand(launcher, ["--manager", "status"])} shows the selected version).`;
+  }
+  return "Refusing to self-update the opt-in native candidate. Install a separately reviewed candidate bundle to update it.";
+}
+
 const handleUpdate: CommandHandlerFor<Spec> = async ({
   ctx,
   args,
@@ -99,8 +116,7 @@ const handleUpdate: CommandHandlerFor<Spec> = async ({
       json: args.options.json === true,
       result: {
         ok: false,
-        error:
-          "Refusing to self-update the opt-in native candidate. Install a separately reviewed candidate bundle to update it.",
+        error: candidateUpdateRefusal(currentCandidateLauncher()),
       },
     });
   }
diff --git a/src/commands/upgrade.ts b/src/commands/upgrade.ts
index ccc9bfafc..0838ef4f0 100644
--- a/src/commands/upgrade.ts
+++ b/src/commands/upgrade.ts
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ function outcomeLines(
 ): string[] {
   const notes = result.notes.map((note) => `Note: ${note}`);
   if (result.targets.length === 0) {
-    return ["Nothing for hack upgrade apply to do.", ...notes];
+    return ["Nothing for upgrade apply to do.", ...notes];
   }
   const groups = new Map<string, (typeof result.targets)[number][]>();
   for (const target of result.targets) {
diff --git a/src/lib/candidate-launcher.ts b/src/lib/candidate-launcher.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1246001b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/candidate-launcher.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import { statSync } from "node:fs";
+import { basename, dirname, join } from "node:path";
+import { resolveUserHomeDir } from "./home-dir.ts";
+import { quoteShellWord } from "./logs.ts";
+
+/**
+ * Which command a user runs to reach this CLI again, by install kind
+ * (HACK-2251).
+ *
+ * During the prerelease, v5 runs through a candidate launcher while stable v4
+ * stays `hack` on PATH, so text that tells the user what to run must name the
+ * launcher they actually have:
+ *
+ * - `stable`: no candidate marker; the command is `hack`.
+ * - `hack-next`: the channel manager's launcher at
+ *   `<root>/bin/hack-next` of the channel root holding the running bundle
+ *   (default root `~/.hack-next`; not on PATH).
+ * - `bundle`: the bundle's own `hack-v5` script, run by path. It sits next to
+ *   the bundle's `hack-cli`, which is the running executable. When that file
+ *   cannot be found (a source run with the marker set by hand), the name
+ *   `hack-v5` is the best available answer.
+ *
+ * This only names commands. Whether a run is a candidate run, and so whether
+ * hackd may autostart, is `isCandidateRun` in `src/daemon/client.ts`: any
+ * non-empty marker counts, whatever this function makes of it.
+ */
+export type CandidateLauncher =
+  | { readonly kind: "stable"; readonly command: "hack" }
+  | {
+      readonly kind: "hack-next";
+      readonly command: string;
+      /** The selected bundle's `hack-v5`, for what `hack-next` refuses. */
+      readonly bundle: string;
+    }
+  | { readonly kind: "bundle"; readonly command: string };
+
+/** The marker the launchers set; see `scripts/hack-v5.sh`. */
+const CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT_ENV = "HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT";
+
+/** The channel manager's launcher under a home directory. */
+export function hackNextLauncherPath(homeDir: string): string {
+  return join(homeDir, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next");
+}
+
+/**
+ * The `hack-next` launcher of the channel root that holds the running
+ * bundle, if there is one. The manager runs `<root>/versions/<v>/bundle/
+ * hack-cli` on both backends, and `--root` installs live anywhere, so the
+ * root comes from the running executable, not from HOME.
+ */
+export function bundleChannelLauncher(execPath: string): string | null {
+  const bundle = dirname(execPath);
+  if (basename(bundle) !== "bundle") {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const versions = dirname(dirname(bundle));
+  if (basename(versions) !== "versions") {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const path = join(dirname(versions), "bin", "hack-next");
+  try {
+    return statSync(path).isFile() ? path : null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/** The bundle's `hack-v5` next to the running `hack-cli`, if it is a file. */
+export function adjacentBundleLauncher(execPath: string): string | null {
+  const path = join(dirname(execPath), "hack-v5");
+  try {
+    return statSync(path).isFile() ? path : null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+export function resolveCandidateLauncher(opts: {
+  readonly env: Readonly<Record<string, string | undefined>>;
+  readonly homeDir: string;
+  /** The running executable (default `process.execPath`). */
+  readonly execPath?: string;
+}): CandidateLauncher {
+  const entry = (opts.env[CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT_ENV] ?? "").trim();
+  if (entry === "") {
+    return { kind: "stable", command: "hack" };
+  }
+  const execPath = opts.execPath ?? process.execPath;
+  const bundle = adjacentBundleLauncher(execPath) ?? "hack-v5";
+  if (entry === "hack-next") {
+    return {
+      kind: "hack-next",
+      // The installation's own launcher; the default root only when the
+      // running bundle is not inside a channel root (a source run).
+      command:
+        bundleChannelLauncher(execPath) ?? hackNextLauncherPath(opts.homeDir),
+      bundle,
+    };
+  }
+  return { kind: "bundle", command: bundle };
+}
+
+/** The launcher for this process, from its environment and the user's home. */
+export function currentCandidateLauncher(): CandidateLauncher {
+  return resolveCandidateLauncher({
+    env: process.env,
+    homeDir: resolveUserHomeDir(),
+  });
+}
+
+/** A command line for `launcher`: optional env assignments, then each word quoted. */
+export function launcherCommand(
+  launcher: CandidateLauncher,
+  args: readonly string[],
+  env: Readonly<Record<string, string>> = {}
+): string {
+  return [
+    ...Object.entries(env).map(
+      ([key, value]) => `${key}=${quoteShellWord(value)}`
+    ),
+    ...[launcher.command, ...args].map((word) => quoteShellWord(word)),
+  ].join(" ");
+}
+
+/**
+ * The command that sets up a fresh native home. A custom `HACK_NATIVE_HOME`
+ * needs the bundle's `hack-v5`: `hack-next` refuses one, because it keeps its
+ * receipt-owned home for safe upgrades. `<new private home>` is a placeholder
+ * the user replaces.
+ */
+export function freshNativeHomeSetupCommand(
+  launcher: CandidateLauncher
+): string {
+  const runner =
+    launcher.kind === "hack-next" ? launcher.bundle : launcher.command;
+  return `HACK_NATIVE_HOME=<new private home> ${quoteShellWord(runner)} native setup`;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/doctor-compose-backend.ts b/src/lib/doctor-compose-backend.ts
index ce331fd71..8c806735b 100644
--- a/src/lib/doctor-compose-backend.ts
+++ b/src/lib/doctor-compose-backend.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import {
-  BASIC_BUILD_NEXT_STEP,
-  COMPOSE_BACKEND_SELECTION,
+  basicBuildNextStep,
   type ComposeBackendFeature,
   type ComposeBackendFeatureOptions,
+  composeBackendCommand,
   describeComposeBackendFeatures,
   ISOLATED_NETWORKS_SELECTION,
+  projectSelectorArgs,
 } from "./native-compose-backend-features.ts";
 
 /** Doctor check id for the Compose-backend feature report. */
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ export function composeBackendCheckResult(
     readonly backend: "native" | "compose";
     readonly features: readonly ComposeBackendFeature[];
     readonly basicBuild?: boolean;
+    /** The checked project's root, so printed commands select it. */
+    readonly projectRoot?: string;
   } & ComposeBackendFeatureOptions
 ): {
   readonly name: string;
@@ -59,14 +62,14 @@ export function composeBackendCheckResult(
     ? ` ${ISOLATED_NETWORKS_SELECTION}.`
     : "";
   const build = basicBuild
-    ? ` Its basic Compose build is also refused by native image-project up. ${BASIC_BUILD_NEXT_STEP}.`
+    ? ` Its basic Compose build is also refused by native image-project up. ${basicBuildNextStep(undefined, opts.projectRoot)}.`
     : "";
   if (opts.features.length === 0) {
     if (basicBuild && opts.backend === "native") {
       return {
         name: COMPOSE_BACKEND_CHECK,
         status: "warn",
-        message: `No Compose-only features found, but native image-project up refuses this project's basic Compose build while HACK_NATIVE_BUILDS is not set. ${BASIC_BUILD_NEXT_STEP}, or ${COMPOSE_BACKEND_SELECTION} to run it on the Compose backend.`,
+        message: `No Compose-only features found, but native image-project up refuses this project's basic Compose build while HACK_NATIVE_BUILDS is not set. ${basicBuildNextStep(undefined, opts.projectRoot)}, or run it on the Compose backend: ${composeBackendCommand(["up", ...projectSelectorArgs(opts)])}.`,
         composeBackend,
       };
     }
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@ export function composeBackendCheckResult(
       return {
         name: COMPOSE_BACKEND_CHECK,
         status: "ok",
-        message: `No Compose-only features found; the basic Compose build runs on the Compose backend. Native image-project up refuses it while HACK_NATIVE_BUILDS is not set: ${BASIC_BUILD_NEXT_STEP}.`,
+        message: `No Compose-only features found; the basic Compose build runs on the Compose backend. Native image-project up refuses it while HACK_NATIVE_BUILDS is not set: ${basicBuildNextStep(undefined, opts.projectRoot)}.`,
         composeBackend,
       };
     }
@@ -91,7 +94,7 @@ export function composeBackendCheckResult(
     return {
       name: COMPOSE_BACKEND_CHECK,
       status: "warn",
-      message: `${uses}, so native up refuses it and the project runs on the Compose backend. ${COMPOSE_BACKEND_SELECTION} to run it there.${network}${build}`,
+      message: `${uses}, so native up refuses it and the project runs on the Compose backend. To run it there: ${composeBackendCommand(["up", ...projectSelectorArgs(opts)])}.${network}${build}`,
       composeBackend,
     };
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/native-compose-backend-features.ts b/src/lib/native-compose-backend-features.ts
index 9f765c099..2a1572f49 100644
--- a/src/lib/native-compose-backend-features.ts
+++ b/src/lib/native-compose-backend-features.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ import {
   selectNativePlatformModes,
 } from "../backends/native-project-platform.ts";
 import { readNativeSelection } from "../backends/native-project-selection.ts";
+import {
+  type CandidateLauncher,
+  currentCandidateLauncher,
+  launcherCommand,
+} from "./candidate-launcher.ts";
 import { HackCliError } from "./cli-result.ts";
 import { isRecord } from "./guards.ts";
 import { HACK_OWNERSHIP_LABEL_NAMESPACES } from "./hack-ownership-labels.ts";
@@ -606,9 +611,17 @@ export function describeComposeBackendFeatures(
   return `${phrases.slice(0, -1).join(", ")} and ${phrases.at(-1)}`;
 }
 
-/** The selection that runs this project on the Compose backend. */
-export const COMPOSE_BACKEND_SELECTION =
-  "Set HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose (hack-next and hack-v5 accept it too)";
+/**
+ * The command that runs `args` on the Compose backend, through the launcher
+ * the user has (`hack`, `~/.hack-next/bin/hack-next` or the bundle's
+ * `hack-v5`; HACK-2251).
+ */
+export function composeBackendCommand(
+  args: readonly string[],
+  launcher: CandidateLauncher = currentCandidateLauncher()
+): string {
+  return launcherCommand(launcher, args, { HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND: "compose" });
+}
 
 /**
  * The documented selection that keeps a project with an external network on
@@ -617,9 +630,44 @@ export const COMPOSE_BACKEND_SELECTION =
 export const ISOLATED_NETWORKS_SELECTION =
   "An external network can stay on native instead: list it by name in `isolatedNetworks` of the `HACK_NATIVE_ADAPTATION` selection, and native start replaces it with an owned isolated network that does not join the external one";
 
-/** The next step for a basic build, which native image-project `up` refuses without native builds. */
-export const BASIC_BUILD_NEXT_STEP =
-  "Set HACK_NATIVE_BUILDS=1 to build it in the native runtime, or preview the authored native conversion with `hack config import --dry-run --path <project root>`";
+/**
+ * The next step for a basic build, which native image-project `up` refuses
+ * without native builds. The preview command names the user's launcher.
+ */
+export function basicBuildNextStep(
+  launcher: CandidateLauncher = currentCandidateLauncher(),
+  /** The selected project's root; `<project root>` when unknown. */
+  projectRoot?: string
+): string {
+  const preview =
+    projectRoot === undefined
+      ? `${launcherCommand(launcher, ["config", "import", "--dry-run", "--path"])} <project root>`
+      : launcherCommand(launcher, [
+          "config",
+          "import",
+          "--dry-run",
+          "--path",
+          projectRoot,
+        ]);
+  return `Set HACK_NATIVE_BUILDS=1 to build it in the native runtime, or preview the authored native conversion with \`${preview}\``;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The command words that select the same project, branch and env overlay as
+ * the refused command, so the printed fallback works from any directory and
+ * starts the same configuration.
+ */
+export function projectSelectorArgs(opts: {
+  readonly projectRoot?: string;
+  readonly branch?: string;
+  readonly env?: string;
+}): string[] {
+  return [
+    ...(opts.projectRoot === undefined ? [] : ["--path", opts.projectRoot]),
+    ...(opts.branch === undefined ? [] : ["--branch", opts.branch]),
+    ...(opts.env === undefined ? [] : ["--env", opts.env]),
+  ];
+}
 
 /**
  * The closed refusal for a project that needs the Compose backend: stable code
@@ -631,6 +679,12 @@ export function composeBackendRefusal(
     readonly features: readonly ComposeBackendFeature[];
     readonly restart: boolean;
     readonly foreignNetworks?: readonly string[];
+    /** The selected project's root, printed as `--path` in the fallback. */
+    readonly projectRoot?: string;
+    /** The `--branch` the refused command was given, if any. */
+    readonly branch?: string;
+    /** The `--env` the refused command was given, if any. */
+    readonly env?: string;
   } & ComposeBackendFeatureOptions
 ): HackCliError {
   const command = opts.restart ? "hack restart" : "hack up";
@@ -639,7 +693,7 @@ export function composeBackendRefusal(
     : "";
   return new HackCliError({
     code: "E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED",
-    message: `Native \`${command}\` does not support ${describeComposeBackendFeatures(opts.features, opts)}; this project runs on the Compose backend. ${COMPOSE_BACKEND_SELECTION} and run the command again. Nothing was started or stopped.${names}`,
+    message: `Native \`${command}\` does not support ${describeComposeBackendFeatures(opts.features, opts)}; this project runs on the Compose backend. To run it there: ${composeBackendCommand([opts.restart ? "restart" : "up", ...projectSelectorArgs(opts)])}. Nothing was started or stopped.${names}`,
     detail: { backend: "compose", features: [...opts.features] },
   });
 }
@@ -657,6 +711,12 @@ export async function refuseNativeComposeBackendFeatures(
     /** Every adaptation native start could apply; see {@link readComposeBackendFeatures}. */
     readonly adaptationCandidates?: readonly (string | undefined)[];
     readonly restart: boolean;
+    /** The selected project's root, printed as `--path` in the fallback. */
+    readonly projectRoot?: string;
+    /** The `--branch` the refused command was given, if any. */
+    readonly branch?: string;
+    /** The `--env` the refused command was given, if any. */
+    readonly env?: string;
   } & ComposeBackendFeatureOptions
 ): Promise<void> {
   const features = await readComposeBackendFeatures(opts.composeFile, {
diff --git a/src/lib/upgrade-apply.ts b/src/lib/upgrade-apply.ts
index 830631977..21889acf8 100644
--- a/src/lib/upgrade-apply.ts
+++ b/src/lib/upgrade-apply.ts
@@ -189,14 +189,18 @@ export type Planned = {
 };
 
 const ERROR_CODE = /^[A-Z0-9_]{1,40}$/;
-const SKIP_BLOCKED =
-  "Not run: this checkout has a blocker or a check that could not be performed; fix that first (hack upgrade check lists it).";
-const NOTE_HOME_WITH_PROJECT =
-  "Agent files under HOME serve every project and are left out with --project; run hack upgrade apply --only agent-integrations without --project for them.";
+/*
+ * Messages that name a command take `cli`, the report's `cli.command`: the
+ * launcher the check ran through, never a bare `hack` (HACK-2251).
+ */
+const skipBlocked = (cli: string) =>
+  `Not run: this checkout has a blocker or a check that could not be performed; fix that first (${cli} upgrade check lists it).`;
+const noteHomeWithProject = (cli: string) =>
+  `Agent files under HOME serve every project and are left out with --project; run ${cli} upgrade apply --only agent-integrations without --project for them.`;
 const NOT_IN_SNAPSHOT =
   "Not changed: the file is not in this run's snapshot, so a rollback could not restore it.";
-const NOT_RECORDED =
-  "Changed, but the snapshot could not record what was written; hack upgrade rollback needs --overwrite for this file.";
+const notRecorded = (cli: string) =>
+  `Changed, but the snapshot could not record what was written; ${cli} upgrade rollback needs --overwrite for this file.`;
 
 /**
  * Runs (or with `dryRun` lists) the apply steps of `report`. `collect`
@@ -485,6 +489,7 @@ async function executeApplyRun(opts: {
     } else {
       results.push(
         await applyTarget({
+          cli: input.report.cli.command,
           target,
           snapshot: currentSnapshot,
           inSnapshot,
@@ -597,8 +602,7 @@ export function validateUpgradeSelection(opts: {
     return {
       status: "refused",
       reason: "unknown-project",
-      message:
-        "No live registered project has that name; nothing was changed. hack upgrade check lists them.",
+      message: `No live registered project has that name; nothing was changed. ${opts.report.cli.command} upgrade check lists them.`,
     };
   }
   // A registration is identified by its primary checkout, which carries
@@ -657,7 +661,7 @@ function planTargets(opts: {
           skip: null,
         });
       } else {
-        notes.push(NOTE_HOME_WITH_PROJECT);
+        notes.push(noteHomeWithProject(opts.report.cli.command));
       }
     }
     const seen = new Set<string>();
@@ -676,7 +680,7 @@ function planTargets(opts: {
         project: target.project,
         root: target.root,
         projectDir: byRoot.get(root)?.project_dir ?? null,
-        skip: unsafe.has(root) ? SKIP_BLOCKED : null,
+        skip: unsafe.has(root) ? skipBlocked(opts.report.cli.command) : null,
       });
     }
   }
@@ -697,6 +701,8 @@ function unsafeRoots(report: UpgradeCheckReport): ReadonlySet<string> {
 }
 
 async function applyTarget(opts: {
+  /** How printed commands run this CLI (the report's `cli.command`). */
+  readonly cli: string;
   readonly target: Planned;
   readonly snapshot: UpgradeSnapshot;
   readonly inSnapshot: ReadonlySet<string>;
@@ -743,7 +749,7 @@ async function applyTarget(opts: {
       backup_manifest: kept,
     };
   }
-  const result = agentOutcome({ target, migrated });
+  const result = agentOutcome({ target, migrated, cli: opts.cli });
   await opts.checkpoint?.("agent-written");
   if (
     migrated.status === "applied" ||
@@ -765,7 +771,7 @@ async function applyTarget(opts: {
             : [],
       })) !== "safe"
     ) {
-      return { ...result, status: "failed", message: NOT_RECORDED };
+      return { ...result, status: "failed", message: notRecorded(opts.cli) };
     }
     let recorded = false;
     try {
@@ -780,13 +786,14 @@ async function applyTarget(opts: {
       recorded = false;
     }
     if (!recorded) {
-      return { ...result, status: "failed", message: NOT_RECORDED };
+      return { ...result, status: "failed", message: notRecorded(opts.cli) };
     }
   }
   return result;
 }
 
 async function applyIgnoreRules(opts: {
+  readonly cli: string;
   readonly target: Planned;
   readonly snapshot: UpgradeSnapshot;
   readonly inSnapshot: ReadonlySet<string>;
@@ -855,11 +862,11 @@ async function applyIgnoreRules(opts: {
     return outcome(
       target,
       "failed",
-      `${closedError(failure)}${recorded ? "" : ` ${NOT_RECORDED}`}`
+      `${closedError(failure)}${recorded ? "" : ` ${notRecorded(opts.cli)}`}`
     );
   }
   if (!recorded) {
-    return outcome(target, "failed", NOT_RECORDED);
+    return outcome(target, "failed", notRecorded(opts.cli));
   }
   if (result.readOnly) {
     return outcome(
@@ -874,17 +881,18 @@ async function applyIgnoreRules(opts: {
 function agentOutcome(opts: {
   readonly target: Planned;
   readonly migrated: PluginMigrationApplyResult;
+  readonly cli: string;
 }): UpgradeApplyTarget {
-  const { target, migrated } = opts;
+  const { target, migrated, cli } = opts;
   const preview =
     target.projectDir === null
-      ? "hack setup migrate --global"
-      : "hack setup migrate --path <checkout>";
+      ? `${cli} setup migrate --global`
+      : `${cli} setup migrate --path <checkout>`;
   if (migrated.status === "nothing-to-migrate") {
     return outcome(
       target,
       "unchanged",
-      "No standalone Hack agent file to remove here; a stale AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md section is refreshed by hack setup, not by apply."
+      `No standalone Hack agent file to remove here; a stale AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md section is refreshed by ${cli} setup, not by apply.`
     );
   }
   if (migrated.status === "refused") {
@@ -1044,12 +1052,15 @@ function recoverPlannedTarget(opts: {
   );
   let skip: string | null = null;
   if (target.project === null) {
-    skip = normalize(target.root) === normalize(home) ? null : SKIP_BLOCKED;
+    skip =
+      normalize(target.root) === normalize(home)
+        ? null
+        : skipBlocked(report.cli.command);
   } else if (
     checkout === undefined ||
     unsafeRoots(report).has(normalize(target.root))
   ) {
-    skip = SKIP_BLOCKED;
+    skip = skipBlocked(report.cli.command);
   }
   return {
     fix: target.fix,
diff --git a/src/lib/upgrade-check-project.ts b/src/lib/upgrade-check-project.ts
index 3aaea848a..92c2a6673 100644
--- a/src/lib/upgrade-check-project.ts
+++ b/src/lib/upgrade-check-project.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { constants } from "node:fs";
 import { type FileHandle, open, readdir, stat } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { basename, resolve } from "node:path";
-
 import { inspectDoctorAgentIntegrations } from "../commands/doctor.ts";
 import {
   PROJECT_COMPOSE_FILENAME,
@@ -13,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   PROJECT_ENV_FILENAME,
   PROJECT_ENV_STATE_FILENAME,
 } from "../constants.ts";
+import { launcherCommand } from "./candidate-launcher.ts";
 import {
   gitIsLocalKeyIgnored,
   gitListTrackedKeyPaths,
@@ -117,6 +117,12 @@ export type RegisteredCheckout = {
   readonly projectDirName: string;
 };
 
+/** Renders a command line through the launcher the check ran through (HACK-2251). */
+export type CommandRenderer = (args: readonly string[]) => string;
+
+const stableCommand: CommandRenderer = (args) =>
+  launcherCommand({ kind: "stable", command: "hack" }, args);
+
 /** A registered project's primary checkout and its registered worktrees. */
 export function registeredCheckouts(
   project: RegisteredProject
@@ -324,6 +330,7 @@ async function assertReadableEnvLayers(projectDir: string): Promise<void> {
 function envFormatFinding(opts: {
   readonly detected: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof detectEnvFormats>>;
   readonly root: string;
+  readonly command: CommandRenderer;
 }): UpgradeFinding {
   if (opts.detected.kind === "conflict") {
     return refusedEnvLayerFinding({
@@ -331,6 +338,7 @@ function envFormatFinding(opts: {
       root: opts.root,
       layer: opts.detected.layer,
       status: "blocker",
+      command: opts.command,
     });
   }
   const { formats } = opts.detected;
@@ -532,7 +540,8 @@ async function agentFinding(opts: {
 }
 
 function nativeFinding(
-  probe: NativePreflightProbe | null
+  probe: NativePreflightProbe | null,
+  command: CommandRenderer
 ): UpgradeFinding | null {
   if (probe === null) {
     return null;
@@ -541,7 +550,7 @@ function nativeFinding(
     ? {
         id: "native-preflight",
         status: "ok",
-        summary: `No native configuration blockers (${probe.warnings} warning(s)); runtime setup and runtime review were not checked. Run hack native setup, then hack doctor --native-preflight.`,
+        summary: `No native configuration blockers (${probe.warnings} warning(s)); runtime setup and runtime review were not checked. Run ${command(["native", "setup"])}, then ${command(["doctor", "--native-preflight"])}.`,
         args: null,
         action: null,
       }
@@ -707,6 +716,7 @@ async function guarded(
     readonly timeoutMs: number;
     readonly deadline: number;
     readonly root: string;
+    readonly command: CommandRenderer;
   },
   run: (timeoutMs: number) => Promise<UpgradeFinding | null>
 ): Promise<UpgradeFinding | null> {
@@ -745,6 +755,7 @@ async function guarded(
         root: limits.root,
         layer: error.layer,
         status: REQUIRED_CHECKS.has(id) ? "incomplete" : "warn",
+        command: limits.command,
       });
     }
     const code = upgradeCheckFailureClass(error);
@@ -762,14 +773,16 @@ function refusedEnvLayerFinding(input: {
   readonly root: string;
   readonly layer: string;
   readonly status: UpgradeFindingStatus;
+  readonly command: CommandRenderer;
 }): UpgradeFinding {
+  const recheck = input.command(["upgrade", "check"]);
   const canonicalName = input.layer.toLowerCase();
   const isLayer =
     canonicalName.startsWith(PROJECT_ENV_CONFIG_FILENAME_PREFIX) &&
     canonicalName.endsWith(PROJECT_ENV_CONFIG_FILENAME_SUFFIX);
   const remedy = isLayer
-    ? "replace the link with a readable file in this checkout or remove the layer, then rerun hack upgrade check."
-    : "repair the readable directory inside this checkout, then rerun hack upgrade check.";
+    ? `replace the link with a readable file in this checkout or remove the layer, then rerun ${recheck}.`
+    : `repair the readable directory inside this checkout, then rerun ${recheck}.`;
   return {
     id: input.id,
     status: input.status,
@@ -781,8 +794,8 @@ function refusedEnvLayerFinding(input: {
     },
     args: ["doctor", "--path", input.root],
     action: isLayer
-      ? `Make ${input.layer} a readable regular file inside this checkout: replace the link with a real file here, or remove the layer, then rerun hack upgrade check.`
-      : `Make ${input.layer} a readable directory inside this checkout, then rerun hack upgrade check.`,
+      ? `Make ${input.layer} a readable regular file inside this checkout: replace the link with a real file here, or remove the layer, then rerun ${recheck}.`
+      : `Make ${input.layer} a readable directory inside this checkout, then rerun ${recheck}.`,
   };
 }
 
@@ -799,19 +812,27 @@ export async function inspectUpgradeProject(opts: {
   readonly deadline: number;
   /** Per-check limit; defaults to 8 s. */
   readonly checkTimeoutMs?: number;
+  /**
+   * Renders a command line for text that names one, through the launcher the
+   * check ran through (HACK-2251); defaults to `hack`.
+   */
+  readonly command?: CommandRenderer;
 }): Promise<readonly UpgradeFinding[]> {
   const root = opts.project.repoRoot;
   const projectDir = opts.project.projectDir;
+  const command = opts.command ?? stableCommand;
   const limits = {
     timeoutMs: opts.checkTimeoutMs ?? PROJECT_CHECK_TIMEOUT_MS,
     deadline: opts.deadline,
     root,
+    command,
   };
   const results = await Promise.all([
     guarded("env-format", limits, async () =>
       envFormatFinding({
         detected: await detectEnvFormats({ projectDir }),
         root,
+        command,
       })
     ),
     guarded("env-key", limits, () => envKeyFinding({ root })),
@@ -835,7 +856,7 @@ export async function inspectUpgradeProject(opts: {
       projectStoreFinding({ root, projectDir })
     ),
     guarded("native-preflight", limits, async () =>
-      nativeFinding(await opts.nativePreflight({ projectRoot: root }))
+      nativeFinding(await opts.nativePreflight({ projectRoot: root }), command)
     ),
   ]);
   return results.filter((finding) => finding !== null);
diff --git a/src/lib/upgrade-check-render.ts b/src/lib/upgrade-check-render.ts
index 53917f94c..9b1a6a6b8 100644
--- a/src/lib/upgrade-check-render.ts
+++ b/src/lib/upgrade-check-render.ts
@@ -241,12 +241,15 @@ function planLines(report: UpgradeCheckReport): string[] {
       : ["Plan", ...report.plan.flatMap(stepLines)];
   if (report.plan.some((step) => step.applies)) {
     lines.push(
-      "  Steps marked (apply) run for all their checkouts with hack upgrade apply (--dry-run to preview, --project <name> for one project)."
+      // The launcher this check ran through, never a bare `hack` (HACK-2251).
+      `  Steps marked (apply) run for all their checkouts with ${report.cli.command} upgrade apply (--dry-run to preview, --project <name> for one project).`
     );
   }
   lines.push("");
-  lines.push(...namedLines("Blocked by", report.blockers));
-  lines.push(...namedLines("Not checked", report.incomplete, true));
+  lines.push(...namedLines("Blocked by", report.blockers, report.cli.command));
+  lines.push(
+    ...namedLines("Not checked", report.incomplete, report.cli.command, true)
+  );
   if (report.next_command !== null) {
     lines.push(`Next: ${report.next_command}`);
   } else if (report.next_action !== null) {
@@ -301,6 +304,8 @@ function machineStepPurpose(step: UpgradePlanStep): string {
 function namedLines(
   title: string,
   items: UpgradeCheckReport["blockers"],
+  /** The report's `cli.command`: the launcher the check ran through. */
+  cli: string,
   why = false
 ): string[] {
   if (items.length === 0) {
@@ -317,7 +322,7 @@ function namedLines(
       ];
   if (why && items.length > MAX_NAMED) {
     lines.push(
-      `  … and ${items.length - MAX_NAMED} more (hack upgrade check --verbose).`
+      `  … and ${items.length - MAX_NAMED} more (${cli} upgrade check --verbose).`
     );
   }
   lines.push("");
diff --git a/src/lib/upgrade-check.ts b/src/lib/upgrade-check.ts
index de0d3dbb3..ac68f87b7 100644
--- a/src/lib/upgrade-check.ts
+++ b/src/lib/upgrade-check.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
+import { resolve } from "node:path";
 
 import { isCandidateRun } from "../daemon/client.ts";
+import { resolveCandidateLauncher } from "./candidate-launcher.ts";
 import { quoteShellWord } from "./logs.ts";
 import { withProcessDeadline } from "./process-deadline.ts";
 import {
@@ -78,28 +79,28 @@ export type UpgradeCommandPrefix = {
 
 /**
  * During the prerelease, v5 runs through a candidate launcher while stable
- * v4 stays `hack` on PATH, so a bare `hack` would run the old CLI. The
- * `hack-next` launcher lives at `~/.hack-next/bin/hack-next` (not on PATH);
- * a Compose candidate run also needs `HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose`.
+ * v4 stays `hack` on PATH, so a bare `hack` would run the old CLI. Printed
+ * commands use the launcher this run came through (see
+ * {@link resolveCandidateLauncher}): `~/.hack-next/bin/hack-next`, or the
+ * bundle's `hack-v5` by path. A Compose candidate run also needs
+ * `HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose`.
  */
 export function upgradeCommandPrefix(opts: {
   readonly env: Readonly<Record<string, string | undefined>>;
   readonly homeDir: string;
+  /** The running executable (default `process.execPath`). */
+  readonly execPath?: string;
 }): UpgradeCommandPrefix {
-  const entry = (opts.env.HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT ?? "").trim();
-  if (entry === "") {
+  const launcher = resolveCandidateLauncher(opts);
+  if (launcher.kind === "stable") {
     return { env: {}, argv: ["hack"] };
   }
-  const launcher =
-    entry === "hack-next"
-      ? join(opts.homeDir, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next")
-      : entry;
   return {
     env:
       (opts.env.HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND ?? "").trim() === "compose"
         ? { HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND: "compose" }
         : {},
-    argv: [launcher],
+    argv: [launcher.command],
   };
 }
 
@@ -250,6 +251,7 @@ export async function runUpgradeCheck(opts: {
           nativePreflight: opts.probes.nativePreflight,
           deadline,
           checkTimeoutMs: opts.checkTimeoutMs,
+          command: (args) => renderUpgradeCommand(prefix, args),
         })
       ).map(render),
     })
@@ -578,7 +580,7 @@ async function inspectMachine(opts: {
             id: "linux-dns",
             status: "info",
             summary:
-              "The Linux DNS route is set up by hack global install (listed above).",
+              "The Linux DNS route is set up by the global install listed above.",
             args: null,
             action: null,
           }
@@ -870,7 +872,7 @@ async function inspectGlobalSecretStore(opts: {
         "The global secret store's key file is missing; the OS keychain may hold its key, but it was not asked (asking can prompt).",
       args: ["doctor"],
       action:
-        "hack doctor asks the OS keychain and reports whether the key is there.",
+        "Doctor (the command above) asks the OS keychain and reports whether the key is there.",
     };
   }
   // Each reader's own key decides whether it is stranded: a project may
@@ -934,7 +936,7 @@ function misconfiguredReadersFinding(readers: ReaderKeyStates): UpgradeFinding {
     action:
       readers.opening.length > 0
         ? `Give ${readers.failing.join(", ")} the key that opens the store (the keyPath ${readers.opening.join(", ")} use${readers.opening.length === 1 ? "s" : ""}), or HACK_SECRETS_FILE_KEY.`
-        : "Run hack doctor to establish every reader's key before retiring or replacing the store.",
+        : "Run doctor (the command above) to establish every reader's key before retiring or replacing the store.",
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/upgrade-plan.ts b/src/lib/upgrade-plan.ts
index d88beecc8..007646d16 100644
--- a/src/lib/upgrade-plan.ts
+++ b/src/lib/upgrade-plan.ts
@@ -346,9 +346,9 @@ function groupAction(opts: {
     ? " Each checkout's finding says what else to do."
     : "";
   if (shared !== null && first?.args?.includes(first.root)) {
-    return `Run ${opts.render(shared)} --path ${PATH_PLACEHOLDER} for each of the ${count} checkouts (hack upgrade check --verbose lists them).${advice}`;
+    return `Run ${opts.render(shared)} --path ${PATH_PLACEHOLDER} for each of the ${count} checkouts (${opts.render(["upgrade", "check", "--verbose"])} lists them).${advice}`;
   }
-  return `See the finding in each of the ${count} checkouts (hack upgrade check --verbose lists them).`;
+  return `See the finding in each of the ${count} checkouts (${opts.render(["upgrade", "check", "--verbose"])} lists them).`;
 }
 
 /** `args` without its `--path <root>` pair. */
diff --git a/tests/candidate-launcher.test.ts b/tests/candidate-launcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c2f296678
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/candidate-launcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { chmod, mkdtemp, realpath, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { nativeSetupGuidance } from "../src/backends/native-runtime-setup.ts";
+import { candidateUpdateRefusal } from "../src/commands/update.ts";
+import {
+  type CandidateLauncher,
+  freshNativeHomeSetupCommand,
+  resolveCandidateLauncher,
+} from "../src/lib/candidate-launcher.ts";
+import { composeBackendCheckResult } from "../src/lib/doctor-compose-backend.ts";
+import {
+  basicBuildNextStep,
+  composeBackendCommand,
+  composeBackendRefusal,
+} from "../src/lib/native-compose-backend-features.ts";
+import {
+  renderUpgradeCommand,
+  upgradeCommandPrefix,
+} from "../src/lib/upgrade-check.ts";
+
+/**
+ * HACK-2251: text that tells the user what to run names the launcher their
+ * install actually has. A fake bundle directory holds `hack-cli` (standing in
+ * for the running executable) and `hack-v5`; nothing is executed.
+ */
+let root: string;
+let home: string;
+let bundle: string;
+let hackCli: string;
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  root = await realpath(await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "hack-launcher-")));
+  home = join(root, "home");
+  bundle = join(root, "versions", "5.0.0-next.18", "bundle");
+  hackCli = join(bundle, "hack-cli");
+  await Bun.write(hackCli, "");
+  await writeFile(join(bundle, "hack-v5"), "#!/bin/sh\n");
+  await chmod(join(bundle, "hack-v5"), 0o755);
+});
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+
+const resolve = (entry: string | undefined, execPath = hackCli) =>
+  resolveCandidateLauncher({
+    env: { HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT: entry },
+    homeDir: home,
+    execPath,
+  });
+
+test("each install kind resolves to a command the user can run", () => {
+  expect(resolve(undefined)).toEqual({ kind: "stable", command: "hack" });
+  expect(resolve("  ")).toEqual({ kind: "stable", command: "hack" });
+  expect(resolve("hack-next")).toEqual({
+    kind: "hack-next",
+    command: join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next"),
+    bundle: join(bundle, "hack-v5"),
+  });
+  // A direct bundle run names its own hack-v5 by path, not the bare name.
+  expect(resolve("hack-v5")).toEqual({
+    kind: "bundle",
+    command: join(bundle, "hack-v5"),
+  });
+  // Without an adjacent hack-v5 (a source run) the name is all there is.
+  expect(resolve("hack-v5", join(root, "elsewhere", "bun"))).toEqual({
+    kind: "bundle",
+    command: "hack-v5",
+  });
+});
+
+test("hack-next resolves the launcher of the channel root that holds the running bundle", async () => {
+  // Codex review of #863: `--root` installs live outside ~/.hack-next; the
+  // printed launcher must be that installation's own.
+  const channel = join(root, "my channel");
+  const custom = join(channel, "versions", "5.0.0-next.18", "bundle");
+  await Bun.write(join(custom, "hack-cli"), "");
+  await Bun.write(join(custom, "hack-v5"), "#!/bin/sh\n");
+  await Bun.write(join(channel, "bin", "hack-next"), "#!/bin/sh\n");
+  const launcher = resolve("hack-next", join(custom, "hack-cli"));
+  expect(launcher).toEqual({
+    kind: "hack-next",
+    command: join(channel, "bin", "hack-next"),
+    bundle: join(custom, "hack-v5"),
+  });
+  expect(composeBackendCommand(["up"], launcher)).toBe(
+    `HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose '${join(channel, "bin", "hack-next")}' up`
+  );
+  expect(candidateUpdateRefusal(launcher)).toContain(
+    `'${join(channel, "bin", "hack-next")}' --manager upgrade --version`
+  );
+  // A bundle that is not inside a channel root falls back to the default.
+  expect(resolve("hack-next").command).toBe(
+    join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next")
+  );
+});
+
+test("upgrade check and apply print the hack-next launcher on either backend", () => {
+  const launcher = join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next");
+  for (const [backend, env] of [
+    [undefined, ""],
+    ["native", ""],
+    ["compose", "HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose "],
+  ] as const) {
+    const prefix = upgradeCommandPrefix({
+      env: {
+        HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT: "hack-next",
+        HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND: backend,
+      },
+      homeDir: home,
+      execPath: hackCli,
+    });
+    expect(renderUpgradeCommand(prefix, ["upgrade", "snapshot"])).toBe(
+      `${env}${launcher} upgrade snapshot`
+    );
+  }
+  const direct = upgradeCommandPrefix({
+    env: { HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT: "hack-v5" },
+    homeDir: home,
+    execPath: hackCli,
+  });
+  expect(renderUpgradeCommand(direct, ["upgrade", "snapshot"])).toBe(
+    `${join(bundle, "hack-v5")} upgrade snapshot`
+  );
+});
+
+const kinds = (): readonly [
+  CandidateLauncher,
+  CandidateLauncher,
+  CandidateLauncher,
+] => [resolve(undefined), resolve("hack-next"), resolve("hack-v5")];
+
+test("native setup guidance names setup through the user's launcher", () => {
+  const [stable, next, direct] = kinds();
+  expect(nativeSetupGuidance({ state: "not_set_up" }, stable)).toBe(
+    "Native runtime is not set up; run hack native setup."
+  );
+  expect(nativeSetupGuidance({ state: "not_set_up" }, next)).toBe(
+    `Native runtime is not set up; run ${join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next")} native setup.`
+  );
+  expect(nativeSetupGuidance({ state: "partial_resumable" }, direct)).toBe(
+    `Native runtime setup is incomplete; run ${join(bundle, "hack-v5")} native setup to resume.`
+  );
+});
+
+test("a fresh native home is set up through the bundle's hack-v5, never hack-next", () => {
+  // hack-next refuses a custom HACK_NATIVE_HOME, so both candidate kinds name
+  // the bundle script by path.
+  const [stable, next, direct] = kinds();
+  const bundled = `HACK_NATIVE_HOME=<new private home> ${join(bundle, "hack-v5")} native setup`;
+  expect(freshNativeHomeSetupCommand(next)).toBe(bundled);
+  expect(freshNativeHomeSetupCommand(direct)).toBe(bundled);
+  expect(freshNativeHomeSetupCommand(stable)).toBe(
+    "HACK_NATIVE_HOME=<new private home> hack native setup"
+  );
+  for (const state of ["invalid_preserved", "pin_mismatch"] as const) {
+    const text = nativeSetupGuidance({ state }, next);
+    expect(text).toContain(join(bundle, "hack-v5"));
+    expect(text).not.toContain("the bundle's hack-v5 launcher");
+  }
+});
+
+test("the Compose-backend hint is a command for the user's launcher", () => {
+  const [stable, next, direct] = kinds();
+  expect(composeBackendCommand(["up"], stable)).toBe(
+    "HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose hack up"
+  );
+  expect(composeBackendCommand(["restart"], next)).toBe(
+    `HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose ${join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next")} restart`
+  );
+  expect(composeBackendCommand(["up"], direct)).toBe(
+    `HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose ${join(bundle, "hack-v5")} up`
+  );
+});
+
+test("the basic-build hint previews config import through the user's launcher", () => {
+  const [stable, next] = kinds();
+  expect(basicBuildNextStep(stable)).toContain(
+    "`hack config import --dry-run --path <project root>`"
+  );
+  expect(basicBuildNextStep(next)).toContain(
+    `\`${join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next")} config import --dry-run --path <project root>\``
+  );
+});
+
+test("the Compose fallback selects the same project and branch from any directory", () => {
+  // Codex review of #863: a refused `up --path /repos/app --branch feature`
+  // must print a fallback that still selects that project and branch.
+  const refusal = composeBackendRefusal({
+    features: ["external_network"],
+    restart: true,
+    projectRoot: join(root, "my app"),
+    branch: "feature-x",
+    env: "staging",
+  });
+  // An explicit --env is kept too: without it the paste would start the
+  // default overlay, a different configuration.
+  expect(refusal.message).toContain(
+    `To run it there: HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose hack restart --path '${join(root, "my app")}' --branch feature-x --env staging.`
+  );
+  // Doctor checks one project; its hints select it too.
+  const doctor = composeBackendCheckResult({
+    backend: "native",
+    features: ["external_network"],
+    basicBuild: true,
+    projectRoot: join(root, "app"),
+  });
+  expect(doctor.message).toContain(
+    `To run it there: HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose hack up --path ${join(root, "app")}.`
+  );
+  expect(doctor.message).toContain(
+    `hack config import --dry-run --path ${join(root, "app")}\``
+  );
+});
+
+test("the self-update refusal names the channel manager only for hack-next", () => {
+  const [, next, direct] = kinds();
+  const launcher = join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next");
+  expect(candidateUpdateRefusal(next)).toBe(
+    `Refusing to self-update the opt-in native candidate. Upgrade it through its channel manager: ${launcher} --manager upgrade --version <newer prerelease> (${launcher} --manager status shows the selected version).`
+  );
+  expect(candidateUpdateRefusal(direct)).toBe(
+    "Refusing to self-update the opt-in native candidate. Install a separately reviewed candidate bundle to update it."
+  );
+});
+
+test("paths that need quoting are quoted as single shell words", () => {
+  const spaced = resolveCandidateLauncher({
+    env: { HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT: "hack-next" },
+    homeDir: join(root, "a home"),
+  });
+  expect(composeBackendCommand(["up"], spaced)).toBe(
+    `HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose '${join(root, "a home", ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next")}' up`
+  );
+});
diff --git a/tests/native-candidate-launcher.test.ts b/tests/native-candidate-launcher.test.ts
index 34e64bfd8..5c01f8217 100644
--- a/tests/native-candidate-launcher.test.ts
+++ b/tests/native-candidate-launcher.test.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,29 @@ test.each([
   expect(result.exitCode).toBe(7);
 });
 
+test.each([
+  ["unset (a direct run)", undefined, "hack-v5"],
+  ["empty", "", "hack-v5"],
+  ["the channel manager's hack-next", "hack-next", "hack-next"],
+  ["hack-next with padding", " hack-next", "hack-v5"],
+  ["any other value", "custom-launcher", "hack-v5"],
+  ["hack-v5 itself", "hack-v5", "hack-v5"],
+])("entrypoint keeps exactly hack-next and marks every other run hack-v5: %s", async (_label, inherited, expected) => {
+  // HACK-2251: hack-next runs this script on native; printed commands must
+  // name ~/.hack-next/bin/hack-next, not the bundle-internal hack-v5.
+  for (const backend of ["native", "compose"]) {
+    const result = await launch(
+      { HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND: backend, HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT: inherited },
+      ["ps"]
+    );
+    expect(result.exitCode).toBe(7);
+    const printed = result.stdout.split("\n");
+    expect(printed[4]).toBe(expected);
+    // Candidate runs never autostart hackd, whichever launcher is named.
+    expect(printed[5]).toBe("1");
+  }
+});
+
 test("explicit Compose selection is respected with the caller's Hack home and no native selectors", async () => {
   // An inherited opt-in cannot re-enable hackd autostart for a candidate run.
   const result = await launch({
diff --git a/tests/native-compose-backend-features-cli.test.ts b/tests/native-compose-backend-features-cli.test.ts
index c29073fc7..90ce52ed7 100644
--- a/tests/native-compose-backend-features-cli.test.ts
+++ b/tests/native-compose-backend-features-cli.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { join, relative, resolve } from "node:path";
 import { nativeBuildsDisabledRefusal } from "../src/backends/native-project-builds.ts";
 import { NATIVE_CONFIGURATION_REFUSAL } from "../src/backends/native-project-start.ts";
 import { PROJECT_ENV_KEY_FILENAME } from "../src/constants.ts";
+import { quoteShellWord } from "../src/lib/logs.ts";
 import { foreignComposeNetworkNames } from "../src/lib/native-hack-compose-conventions.ts";
 import { setProjectEnvValue } from "../src/lib/project-env-config.ts";
 import { nativeSetupShellReply } from "./helpers/native-setup-inspection.ts";
@@ -43,8 +44,12 @@ const ADMITTED_START_REQUESTS = [
   "runtime check-project-share",
   "runtime up",
 ];
-const SELECTION =
-  "this project runs on the Compose backend. Set HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose (hack-next and hack-v5 accept it too) and run the command again. Nothing was started or stopped.";
+/**
+ * The refusal's next step: the refused command through the launcher (`hack`
+ * here), selecting the same project so it works from any directory.
+ */
+const selection = (project: string, command = "hack up") =>
+  `this project runs on the Compose backend. To run it there: HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose ${command} --path ${quoteShellWord(project)}. Nothing was started or stopped.`;
 
 afterEach(async () => {
   for (const root of roots.splice(0)) {
@@ -219,7 +224,7 @@ async function expectComposeBackendRefusal(opts: {
   const result = await cli(f, opts.args ?? ["up"], opts.env);
   expectOneClosedLine(
     result,
-    `E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`${opts.command ?? "hack up"}\` does not support ${opts.phrase}; ${SELECTION}${networkDetail}`
+    `E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`${opts.command ?? "hack up"}\` does not support ${opts.phrase}; ${selection(f.project, opts.command)}${networkDetail}`
   );
   for (const secret of opts.secrets ?? []) {
     expect(result.output).not.toContain(secret);
@@ -617,7 +622,7 @@ test(
     });
     expectOneClosedLine(
       result,
-      `E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`hack up\` does not support an external Compose network; ${SELECTION} Foreign external networks: foreign-dev.`
+      `E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`hack up\` does not support an external Compose network; ${selection(f.project)} Foreign external networks: foreign-dev.`
     );
     expect(await f.calls()).toEqual([]);
     expect(await tree(f.root)).toEqual(before);
diff --git a/tests/native-compose-backend-features.test.ts b/tests/native-compose-backend-features.test.ts
index f3206e42b..aa0a4939a 100644
--- a/tests/native-compose-backend-features.test.ts
+++ b/tests/native-compose-backend-features.test.ts
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ test("the refusal is one coded line with closed detail and no values", async ()
   const error = await expectCodedRefusal(
     refuseNativeComposeBackendFeatures({ composeFile: file, restart: false }),
     "E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED",
-    "Native `hack up` does not support an external Compose network and a service platform other than linux/arm64; this project runs on the Compose backend. Set HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose"
+    "Native `hack up` does not support an external Compose network and a service platform other than linux/arm64; this project runs on the Compose backend. To run it there: HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose hack up."
   );
   expect(error.message).not.toContain("\n");
   expect(error.message).toContain("Foreign external networks: private-net.");
diff --git a/tests/native-project-settings-cli.test.ts b/tests/native-project-settings-cli.test.ts
index e61f884a8..d9df765ee 100644
--- a/tests/native-project-settings-cli.test.ts
+++ b/tests/native-project-settings-cli.test.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
 import { NATIVE_SHARED_SOURCE_REFUSAL } from "../src/backends/native-project-start.ts";
+import { quoteShellWord } from "../src/lib/logs.ts";
 import { nativeSetupShellReply } from "./helpers/native-setup-inspection.ts";
 import { nativeSourceSizeReceipt } from "./helpers/native-source-size.ts";
 import { privateCliEnv, privateCliHome } from "./helpers/private-cli-env.ts";
@@ -32,8 +33,9 @@ const entrypoint = resolve("index.ts");
 const SPAWN_TIMEOUT_MS = 60_000;
 const IMAGE = `sha256:${"e".repeat(64)}`;
 const PROJECT = "settings-cli-fixture";
-const SELECTION =
-  "this project runs on the Compose backend. Set HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose (hack-next and hack-v5 accept it too) and run the command again. Nothing was started or stopped.";
+/** The refusal's fallback selects the same project, so it works from any directory. */
+const selection = (project: string, env?: string) =>
+  `this project runs on the Compose backend. To run it there: HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND=compose hack up --path ${quoteShellWord(project)}${env === undefined ? "" : ` --env ${env}`}. Nothing was started or stopped.`;
 const EXTERNAL_COMPOSE = {
   services: { web: { image: IMAGE, networks: ["shared-dev"] } },
   networks: { "shared-dev": { external: true } },
@@ -198,7 +200,7 @@ test(
       HACK_NATIVE_ADAPTATION: explicit,
     });
     expect(errorLines(result.output)).toEqual([
-      `ERROR: E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`hack up\` does not support an external Compose network; ${SELECTION} Foreign external networks: shared-dev.`,
+      `ERROR: E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`hack up\` does not support an external Compose network; ${selection(f.project)} Foreign external networks: shared-dev.`,
     ]);
     expect(await f.calls()).toEqual([]);
   },
@@ -215,13 +217,20 @@ test(
     });
     const without = await cli(f, ["up"], { HACK_NATIVE_SHARED_SOURCE: "1" });
     expect(errorLines(without.output)).toEqual([
-      `ERROR: E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`hack up\` does not support an external Compose network; ${SELECTION} Foreign external networks: shared-dev.`,
+      `ERROR: E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`hack up\` does not support an external Compose network; ${selection(f.project)} Foreign external networks: shared-dev.`,
     ]);
     expect(await f.calls()).toEqual([]);
     const withEnv = await cli(f, ["up", "--env", "qa"], {
       HACK_NATIVE_SHARED_SOURCE: "1",
     });
     expect(withEnv.output).not.toContain("E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED");
+    // Another env still refuses, and the fallback keeps that --env (HACK-2251).
+    const otherEnv = await cli(f, ["up", "--env", "dev"], {
+      HACK_NATIVE_SHARED_SOURCE: "1",
+    });
+    expect(errorLines(otherEnv.output)).toEqual([
+      `ERROR: E_NATIVE_PROJECT_UNSUPPORTED: Native \`hack up\` does not support an external Compose network; ${selection(f.project, "dev")} Foreign external networks: shared-dev.`,
+    ]);
   },
   SPAWN_TIMEOUT_MS
 );
diff --git a/tests/python-free-installer.test.ts b/tests/python-free-installer.test.ts
index 38beb77ee..d4f8c5f68 100644
--- a/tests/python-free-installer.test.ts
+++ b/tests/python-free-installer.test.ts
@@ -105,11 +105,14 @@ function fixtureArchive(
   expect(tar.exitCode).toBe(0);
   return { archive, checksum: digest(archive) };
 }
-function fixture(hooks: ConstructorParameters<typeof Channel>[2] = {}) {
+function fixture(
+  hooks: ConstructorParameters<typeof Channel>[2] = {},
+  channelName = "channel"
+) {
   const root = scratch();
   const source = join(root, "source-manager");
   writeFileSync(source, "manager-one");
-  const channel = new Channel(join(root, "channel"), source, {
+  const channel = new Channel(join(root, channelName), source, {
     signatures: () => {},
     quiescence: () => {},
     ...hooks,
@@ -118,8 +121,8 @@ function fixture(hooks: ConstructorParameters<typeof Channel>[2] = {}) {
   channel.validate();
   return { root, source, channel };
 }
-async function installed() {
-  const f = fixture();
+async function installed(channelName?: string) {
+  const f = fixture({}, channelName);
   const input = fixtureArchive(f.root);
   await f.channel.install("5.0.0-next.1", input.archive, input.checksum);
   return f;
@@ -135,6 +138,15 @@ fixtureTest(
       await expect(f.channel.run(["up"])).rejects.toThrow(
         "receipt-owned native home"
       );
+      // The refusal names the bundle's launcher by path; it is not on PATH.
+      await expect(f.channel.run(["up"])).rejects.toThrow(
+        join(f.channel.root, "versions/5.0.0-next.1/bundle/hack-v5")
+      );
+      // A root with a space is printed as one shell word (HACK-2251).
+      const spaced = await installed("a channel");
+      await expect(spaced.channel.run(["up"])).rejects.toThrow(
+        `directly: '${join(spaced.channel.root, "versions/5.0.0-next.1/bundle/hack-v5")}'`
+      );
       expect(() => f.channel.requireQuiescent("5.0.0-next.1")).not.toThrow();
       expect(f.channel.environment("5.0.0-next.1").HACK_NATIVE_HOME).toBe(
         join(f.channel.root, "versions/5.0.0-next.1/native-home")
diff --git a/tests/update-command.test.ts b/tests/update-command.test.ts
index 56f65decd..629f1b495 100644
--- a/tests/update-command.test.ts
+++ b/tests/update-command.test.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ import { join } from "node:path";
 
 import { runCli } from "../src/cli/run.ts";
 import { CLI_SPEC } from "../src/cli/spec.ts";
+import { hackNextLauncherPath } from "../src/lib/candidate-launcher.ts";
+import { resolveUserHomeDir } from "../src/lib/home-dir.ts";
+import { quoteShellWord } from "../src/lib/logs.ts";
 
 const ENV_KEYS = [
   "HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND",
@@ -170,10 +173,14 @@ test.each([
   });
   const result = await capturedRun(["update", "--yes", "--json"]);
   expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+  // hack-next names its channel manager by path; a bundle run has no command.
+  const launcher = quoteShellWord(hackNextLauncherPath(resolveUserHomeDir()));
   expect(JSON.parse(result.stdout)).toEqual({
     ok: false,
     error:
-      "Refusing to self-update the opt-in native candidate. Install a separately reviewed candidate bundle to update it.",
+      entrypoint === "hack-next"
+        ? `Refusing to self-update the opt-in native candidate. Upgrade it through its channel manager: ${launcher} --manager upgrade --version <newer prerelease> (${launcher} --manager status shows the selected version).`
+        : "Refusing to self-update the opt-in native candidate. Install a separately reviewed candidate bundle to update it.",
   });
   expect(fetch).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   expect(lookup).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
diff --git a/tests/upgrade-apply.test.ts b/tests/upgrade-apply.test.ts
index 1b0e73a6b..478473b28 100644
--- a/tests/upgrade-apply.test.ts
+++ b/tests/upgrade-apply.test.ts
@@ -194,6 +194,12 @@ function healthyProbes(): UpgradeCheckProbes {
   };
 }
 
+/** A launcher path standing in for the hack-next launcher. */
+const LAUNCHER = "/fixture/launcher/hack-next";
+function withLauncher(report: UpgradeCheckReport): UpgradeCheckReport {
+  return { ...report, cli: { ...report.cli, command: LAUNCHER } };
+}
+
 async function check(): Promise<UpgradeCheckReport> {
   return await runUpgradeCheck({
     cliVersion: "5.0.0-next.17",
@@ -400,6 +406,18 @@ test("apply --dry-run changes nothing; apply snapshots, journals, refreshes .git
       collect: collectUpgradeSnapshotTargets,
     })
   ).toMatchObject({ status: "refused", reason: "unknown-project" });
+  // The refusal points at the launcher the check ran through (HACK-2251).
+  expect(
+    await runUpgradeApply({
+      report: withLauncher(report),
+      dryRun: true,
+      project: "nope",
+      home,
+      collect: collectUpgradeSnapshotTargets,
+    })
+  ).toMatchObject({
+    message: expect.stringContaining(`${LAUNCHER} upgrade check lists them.`),
+  });
   expect(await tree(root)).toEqual(before);
 
   const applied = await runUpgradeApply({
@@ -687,7 +705,8 @@ test("--project leaves HOME agent files out without counting them as unfinished"
   const agentFile = await staleHomeAgentFile();
   const a = await project("app-a");
   await writeRegistry([a]);
-  const report = await check();
+  // Printed commands use the launcher the check ran through (HACK-2251).
+  const report = withLauncher(await check());
   const scopes: string[] = [];
   const applied = await runUpgradeApply({
     report,
@@ -711,13 +730,16 @@ test("--project leaves HOME agent files out without counting them as unfinished"
   }
   expect(applied.targets.map((t) => t.scope)).toEqual(["app-a"]);
   expect(applied.notes[0]).toContain("left out with --project");
+  expect(applied.notes[0]).toContain(
+    `run ${LAUNCHER} upgrade apply --only agent-integrations without --project`
+  );
   expect(await readFile(agentFile, "utf8")).toContain("old standalone");
 }, 60_000);
 
 test("a write whose after state cannot be recorded is failed, not applied", async () => {
   const a = await project("app-a");
   await writeRegistry([a]);
-  const report = await check();
+  const report = withLauncher(await check());
   for (const record of [
     async () => ({ status: "refused" as const, paths: [] }),
     async () => ({ status: "invalid-manifest" as const, message: "x" }),
@@ -738,7 +760,9 @@ test("a write whose after state cannot be recorded is failed, not applied", asyn
       throw new Error(`unexpected status ${applied.status}`);
     }
     expect(applied.targets[0]?.status).toBe("failed");
-    expect(applied.targets[0]?.message).toContain("needs --overwrite");
+    expect(applied.targets[0]?.message).toContain(
+      `${LAUNCHER} upgrade rollback needs --overwrite`
+    );
     const journal = (await readUpgradeSnapshotJournal({
       manifestPath: applied.coverage.manifest_path,
     })) as { state: string };
diff --git a/tests/upgrade-check.test.ts b/tests/upgrade-check.test.ts
index 185f82b18..bc93363dd 100644
--- a/tests/upgrade-check.test.ts
+++ b/tests/upgrade-check.test.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ import {
   type UpgradeCheckProbes,
 } from "../src/lib/upgrade-check-probes.ts";
 import { inspectUpgradeProject } from "../src/lib/upgrade-check-project.ts";
+import { renderUpgradeCheck } from "../src/lib/upgrade-check-render.ts";
+import { buildUpgradePlan } from "../src/lib/upgrade-plan.ts";
 import { collectUpgradeSnapshotTargets } from "../src/lib/upgrade-snapshot-targets.ts";
+import { spawnSyncBounded } from "./helpers/bounded-spawn-sync.ts";
 import { restoreEnv } from "./helpers/env.ts";
 import { fixtureGitEnv } from "./helpers/fixture-git.ts";
 import { privateCliEnv } from "./helpers/private-cli-env.ts";
@@ -733,6 +736,121 @@ test("printed commands run the candidate launcher when the check ran through it"
   }
 });
 
+test("a native hack-next check prints only hack-next commands, in every hint (HACK-2251)", async () => {
+  // The bundle entrypoint keeps the manager's hack-next marker on native, so
+  // the CLI sees HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT=hack-next with no Compose selection.
+  const legacy = await liveProject("app-native-next");
+  await writeFile(join(legacy.projectDir, "hack.env.json"), "{}\n");
+  // A Git checkout without Hack's ignore rules makes an applicable step.
+  const git = spawnSyncBounded(["git", "-C", legacy.repoRoot, "init", "-q"], {
+    env: fixtureGitEnv(),
+    timeout: 10_000,
+  });
+  expect(git.exitCode).toBe(0);
+  await writeRegistry([legacy]);
+  const report = await runUpgradeCheck({
+    cliVersion: "5.0.0-next.18",
+    homeDir: home,
+    probes: healthyProbes({
+      nativePreflight: async () => ({
+        ready: true,
+        blockers: 0,
+        warnings: 0,
+        consentNeeded: 0,
+      }),
+    }),
+    env: {
+      HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT: "hack-next",
+      HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND: "native",
+    },
+  });
+  const launcher = join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next");
+  expect(report.cli.command).toBe(launcher);
+  expect(report.next_command?.startsWith(`${launcher} `)).toBe(true);
+  const native = report.projects
+    .flatMap((project) => project.findings)
+    .find((finding) => finding.id === "native-preflight");
+  expect(native?.summary).toContain(
+    `Run ${launcher} native setup, then ${launcher} doctor --native-preflight.`
+  );
+  const text = renderUpgradeCheck(report, { verbose: true });
+  expect(report.plan.some((step) => step.applies)).toBe(true);
+  expect(text).toContain(`with ${launcher} upgrade apply (--dry-run`);
+  // No printed hint sends a candidate user to stable `hack` or bare hack-v5.
+  expect(text).not.toMatch(/(^|[\s(`])hack (upgrade|native|doctor) /m);
+  expect(text).not.toContain("hack-v5");
+});
+
+test("exceptional and grouped hints also name the hack-next launcher (HACK-2251)", async () => {
+  const env = {
+    HACK_CANDIDATE_ENTRYPOINT: "hack-next",
+    HACK_RUNTIME_BACKEND: "native",
+  };
+  const launcher = join(home, ".hack-next", "bin", "hack-next");
+  // A refused env layer tells the user to rerun the check through the launcher.
+  const project = await liveProject("linked-next");
+  const target = join(root, "sibling-next", "layer.yaml");
+  await mkdir(join(root, "sibling-next"));
+  await writeFile(target, "version: 1\nvars: {}\n");
+  await symlink(target, join(project.projectDir, "hack.env.dev.local.yaml"));
+  await writeRegistry([project]);
+  const report = await runUpgradeCheck({
+    cliVersion: "5.0.0-next.18",
+    homeDir: home,
+    probes: healthyProbes(),
+    env,
+  });
+  const refused = report.projects[0]?.findings.find(
+    (item) => item.id === "env-format"
+  );
+  expect(refused?.summary).toContain(`then rerun ${launcher} upgrade check.`);
+  expect(refused?.action).toContain(`then rerun ${launcher} upgrade check.`);
+  // More unchecked items than are named point at the launcher's --verbose.
+  const many = {
+    ...report,
+    incomplete: Array.from({ length: 7 }, (_, index) => ({
+      scope: `checkout-${index}`,
+      id: "env-format",
+      status: "incomplete" as const,
+      summary: "Not checked.",
+      args: null,
+      action: null,
+      kind: "manual" as const,
+      command: null,
+    })),
+  };
+  expect(renderUpgradeCheck(many)).toContain(
+    `more (${launcher} upgrade check --verbose).`
+  );
+  // A grouped manual step points at the launcher's --verbose listing.
+  const finding = (checkout: string) => ({
+    id: "project-store",
+    status: "warn" as const,
+    summary: "Project store.",
+    args: ["doctor", "--path", checkout],
+    action: null,
+    kind: "manual" as const,
+    command: null,
+  });
+  const plan = buildUpgradePlan({
+    machine: [],
+    projects: ["/repos/a", "/repos/b"].map((checkout) => ({
+      name: checkout,
+      project: checkout,
+      root: checkout,
+      project_dir: join(checkout, ".hack"),
+      state: "live" as const,
+      reason: null,
+      findings: [finding(checkout)],
+    })),
+    render: (args) => [launcher, ...args].join(" "),
+  });
+  const grouped = plan.find((step) => step.id === "project-store");
+  expect(grouped?.action).toContain(
+    `(${launcher} upgrade check --verbose lists them)`
+  );
+});
+
 /** A global encrypted_file store with one entry, and its key file. */
 async function globalStore(opts: {
   readonly reader: Entry;