diff --git a/src/cli.rs b/src/cli.rs
index d71f05f..40cda4f 100644
--- a/src/cli.rs
+++ b/src/cli.rs
@@ -1421,16 +1421,10 @@ fn launch_command(
     let resolved = profile::resolve(config, &executable)?;
     let verbose = resolved.settings.verbose;
     let settings = resolved.settings.clone();
-    let plan = launch::build_plan(command, settings.clone())?;
-    let log_path = settings.log_file.then(|| {
-        settings
-            .log_path
-            .as_deref()
-            .map(PathBuf::from)
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| crate::log::default_log_path(&paths.state_dir))
-    });
 
+    // Dry-run: build the plan (fail-fast) and render it without launching.
     if dry_run {
+        let plan = launch::build_plan(command, settings.clone())?;
         println!(
             "{}",
             launch::render_plan(&plan, &resolved.profile_name, verbose)
@@ -1459,6 +1453,16 @@ fn launch_command(
         return Ok(());
     }
 
+    // Real launch: capture plan errors so the post-hook can always run.
+    let plan_result = launch::build_plan(command, settings.clone());
+    let log_path = settings.log_file.then(|| {
+        settings
+            .log_path
+            .as_deref()
+            .map(PathBuf::from)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| crate::log::default_log_path(&paths.state_dir))
+    });
+
     // Log the launch header.
     if let Some(log_path) = &log_path {
         crate::log::append(
@@ -1467,13 +1471,15 @@ fn launch_command(
                 "--- launch ---".to_string(),
                 format!("executable: {}", executable.basename),
                 format!("profile: {}", resolved.profile_name),
-                format!("command: {}", format_command(&plan.command)),
+                format!("command: {}", format_command(command)),
             ],
         );
     }
 
-    // Run pre-launch hook.
-    if let Some(pre_cmd) = settings.pre_launch.as_deref() {
+    // Run pre-launch hook (only when the plan is valid; skip if binary not found).
+    if plan_result.is_ok()
+        && let Some(pre_cmd) = settings.pre_launch.as_deref()
+    {
         let hook_result = run_hook(pre_cmd);
         let log_label = match &hook_result {
             Ok(status) => exit_status_label(*status),
@@ -1507,16 +1513,16 @@ fn launch_command(
         }
     }
 
-    // Record the launch in state (Steam context only).
-    if env::is_steam_context() {
+    // Record the launch in state (Steam context only, when plan is valid).
+    if plan_result.is_ok() && env::is_steam_context() {
         detect::record_launch(state, &executable, &resolved.profile_name);
         config::save_state(paths, state)?;
     }
 
     if let Some(post_cmd) = settings.post_launch.clone() {
-        // Spawn the game and wait. Capture both success and failure so the
-        // post-hook can always run once we've passed the pre-hook check.
-        let game_result = launch::execute_wait(plan);
+        // Chain plan building with game execution so post-hook runs even when
+        // the binary doesn't exist or otherwise fails to spawn.
+        let game_result = plan_result.and_then(launch::execute_wait);
 
         let (elapsed_secs, game_exit_label) = match &game_result {
             Ok((exit_status, elapsed)) => {
@@ -1579,6 +1585,7 @@ fn launch_command(
             }
         }
     } else {
+        let plan = plan_result?;
         launch::execute(plan)
     }
 }