diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 70bba6e..6d08488 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -71,10 +71,13 @@ jobs:
           ref: ${{ steps.tag.outputs.tag }}
           fetch-depth: 0 # full history needed for generated release notes
 
+      # Building the release with the oldest supported Node.js version (22)
+      # keeps the bundle's esbuild target maximally conservative, so the same
+      # single artifact stays compatible with Node.js 22, 24, and 26 hosts.
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@820762786026740c76f36085b0efc47a31fe5020 # v7.0.0
         with:
-          node-version: 24
+          node-version: 22
           cache: npm
 
       - name: Install dependencies
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5e26d39..939726c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ This section is a complete walkthrough for running the viewer as a background se
 ### Prerequisites
 
 - A Linux host with **systemd** (the default on Debian, Ubuntu, Raspberry Pi OS, Fedora, etc.).
-- **Node.js 20 or newer** installed on the target host. Check with `node --version`. Because the server is bundled into a single `dist/server/index.cjs` file, this is the only runtime dependency — you do **not** need to run `npm install` on the target host.
+- **Node.js 22 or newer** installed on the target host. Check with `node --version`. Because the server is bundled into a single `dist/server/index.cjs` file, this is the only runtime dependency — you do **not** need to run `npm install` on the target host.
 - The `openhab` user. On a standard openHAB installation it already exists and owns the log files. If it does not exist, create a dedicated service user:
 
   ```bash
diff --git a/scripts/build.mjs b/scripts/build.mjs
index 7f8a3cf..a7214ac 100644
--- a/scripts/build.mjs
+++ b/scripts/build.mjs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ await build({
   bundle: true,
   platform: 'node',
   format: 'cjs',
-  target: 'node20',
+  target: 'node22',
   sourcemap: true,
   logLevel: 'info'
 });