diff --git a/.changeset/fix-docker-start-exit.md b/.changeset/fix-docker-start-exit.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4665829d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix-docker-start-exit.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+"@perstack/tui-components": patch
+"perstack": patch
+---
+
+Short-circuit selection TUI when expert key is provided to fix immediate exit in compiled binaries.
+
+In Bun-compiled binaries, the first Ink `render()` call for the selection phase caused the event loop to exit before React effects could fire, resulting in `start` exiting silently with code 0. By returning the selection result directly when `initialExpertKey` is known, the Ink render is skipped entirely.
diff --git a/packages/tui-components/src/selection/app.tsx b/packages/tui-components/src/selection/app.tsx
index fa728915..5988e3c7 100644
--- a/packages/tui-components/src/selection/app.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui-components/src/selection/app.tsx
@@ -40,8 +40,6 @@ type SelectionAppProps = SelectionParams & {
 export const SelectionApp = (props: SelectionAppProps) => {
   const {
     showHistory,
-    initialExpertKey,
-    initialCheckpoint,
     configuredExperts,
     recentExperts,
     historyJobs,
@@ -80,16 +78,8 @@ export const SelectionApp = (props: SelectionAppProps) => {
     }
   }, [exitResult, onComplete, exit])
 
-  // If expert key is provided, complete immediately (never rendered anything)
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (initialExpertKey) {
-      onComplete({
-        expertKey: initialExpertKey,
-        checkpoint: initialCheckpoint,
-      })
-      exit()
-    }
-  }, [initialExpertKey, initialCheckpoint, onComplete, exit])
+  // Note: initialExpertKey shortcut is handled in renderSelection() before
+  // Ink render is called. This component only renders for interactive selection.
 
   // Handlers
   const completeWithExpert = useCallback(
@@ -192,8 +182,8 @@ export const SelectionApp = (props: SelectionAppProps) => {
     ],
   )
 
-  // After exitResult is set or initialExpertKey shortcut, render null
-  if (exitResult || initialExpertKey) {
+  // After exitResult is set, render null so Ink's final frame is empty
+  if (exitResult) {
     return null
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/tui-components/src/selection/render.tsx b/packages/tui-components/src/selection/render.tsx
index af86df6f..18375db5 100644
--- a/packages/tui-components/src/selection/render.tsx
+++ b/packages/tui-components/src/selection/render.tsx
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ import type { SelectionParams, SelectionResult } from "./types.js"
 /**
  * Renders the selection TUI phase.
  * Returns a promise that resolves with the selection result (expert and checkpoint).
+ *
+ * When `initialExpertKey` is provided, returns immediately without rendering the TUI.
+ * This avoids Ink lifecycle issues in compiled binaries where React effects may not
+ * fire before the process exits.
  */
 export async function renderSelection(params: SelectionParams): Promise<SelectionResult> {
+  // Short-circuit: if expert key is already known, skip the TUI entirely
+  if (params.initialExpertKey) {
+    return {
+      expertKey: params.initialExpertKey,
+      checkpoint: params.initialCheckpoint,
+    }
+  }
+
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     let selectionResult: SelectionResult | undefined