diff --git a/.github/workflows/rust-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/rust-ci.yml
index 4143024..8ead92d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rust-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rust-ci.yml
@@ -62,3 +62,44 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run tests
         working-directory: src-rust
         run: cargo test --workspace --locked --quiet
+
+  coven-contract:
+    name: Coven engine contract (non-blocking until coven#346 lands)
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 45
+    # Non-blocking during bootstrap: coven `main` gains the engine contract
+    # tests only when OpenCoven/coven#346 + the engine-lock PR merge. Until then
+    # `cargo test contract` on coven matches zero tests and passes. Once coven
+    # main carries the suite and this job is proven stable, remove
+    # `continue-on-error` to make engine contract breaks a hard gate.
+    continue-on-error: true
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+
+      - name: Install Rust toolchain
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
+      - name: Install system dependencies (engine + coven)
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y libasound2-dev pkg-config libopenblas-dev
+
+      - name: Build the engine
+        working-directory: src-rust
+        run: cargo build --release -p claurst --locked
+
+      - name: Check out OpenCoven/coven
+        uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          repository: OpenCoven/coven
+          path: coven-main
+          persist-credentials: false
+
+      - name: Run coven's engine contract tests against this engine
+        working-directory: coven-main
+        run: |
+          ENGINE="$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/src-rust/target/release/coven-code"
+          echo "engine: $ENGINE"; "$ENGINE" --version
+          COVEN_ENGINE_BIN="$ENGINE" cargo test -p coven-cli --locked contract -- --nocapture
diff --git a/install.ps1 b/install.ps1
index f90a925..d6eb158 100644
--- a/install.ps1
+++ b/install.ps1
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@ function GithubPathHint {
 }
 
 # ----- Main flow -----
+Write-Info "Tip: the unified Coven CLI installs and manages this engine for you -- 'npm install -g @opencoven/cli', then run 'coven'. This standalone installer still works."
+
 if (-not [string]::IsNullOrEmpty($Binary)) {
     Install-FromBinary
 } else {
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 1047209..08a0cbb 100644
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
   esac
 done
 
+print_message info "Tip: the unified Coven CLI installs and manages this engine for you — 'npm install -g @opencoven/cli', then run 'coven'. This standalone installer still works."
+
 # Detect platform
 OS=$(uname -s | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
 ARCH=$(uname -m)
diff --git a/npm/README.md b/npm/README.md
index cfd4897..694a221 100644
--- a/npm/README.md
+++ b/npm/README.md
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 [![Version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/@opencoven/coven-code?style=flat-square)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@opencoven/coven-code)
 [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-GPL--3.0-blue?style=flat-square)](https://github.com/OpenCoven/coven-code/blob/main/LICENSE.md)
 
+> **Recommended install:** `npm install -g @opencoven/cli` — the unified `coven` CLI installs and manages this engine for you.
+> This package (`@opencoven/coven-code`) still installs the engine binary directly and continues to work.
+
 **Coven Code** — open-source agentic coding TUI built in Rust.  
 OpenCoven fork of [Claurst](https://github.com/Kuberwastaken/claurst) by Kuber Mehta (GPL-3.0).
 
diff --git a/npm/package.json b/npm/package.json
index f3297f3..5e32ef2 100644
--- a/npm/package.json
+++ b/npm/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@opencoven/coven-code",
   "version": "0.6.1",
-  "description": "Open-source agentic coding TUI for the terminal \u2014 OpenCoven fork of Claurst",
+  "description": "Coven engine (agentic coding TUI). The unified CLI is @opencoven/cli \u2014 'npm i -g @opencoven/cli'. This package installs the engine binary directly.",
   "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",