diff --git a/local/scripts/build-redbear.sh b/local/scripts/build-redbear.sh
index d98398f666..3a6eb7f413 100755
--- a/local/scripts/build-redbear.sh
+++ b/local/scripts/build-redbear.sh
@@ -232,8 +232,14 @@ bash "$PROJECT_ROOT/local/scripts/build-preflight.sh" --config="$CONFIG" ${REDBE
 # Pre-cook critical packages that may fail in the dependency chain.
 # --with-package-deps resolves ALL transitive deps; pre-cooking ensures
 # the repo has valid pkgars before make live processes the full graph.
+# Only pre-cook the desktop chain for redbear-full; mini/grub don't need it.
 echo ">>> Pre-cooking critical packages..."
-for pkg in relibc icu llvm21 mesa libdrm libepoxy redox-drm lcms2 libdisplay-info libxcvt kwin sddm qtbase; do
+if [ "$CONFIG" = "redbear-full" ]; then
+    PRECOOK_PKGS="relibc icu llvm21 mesa libdrm libepoxy redox-drm lcms2 libdisplay-info libxcvt kwin sddm qtbase"
+else
+    PRECOOK_PKGS="relibc icu llvm21"
+fi
+for pkg in $PRECOOK_PKGS; do
     if [ ! -f "$PROJECT_ROOT/repo/x86_64-unknown-redox/$pkg.pkgar" ]; then
         echo "    cooking $pkg..."
         "$PROJECT_ROOT/target/release/repo" cook "$pkg" 2>&1 | tail -1 || true