diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index bc3ad68..c41befc 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -29,3 +29,6 @@ models/*
 
 # Agent-local settings (per-machine permission allowlists)
 .claude/settings.local.json
+
+# Package build output (make build)
+/dist/
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index e1b0d7b..000f58b 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ Always use the Makefile. `make help` lists every target; this is the full set:
 | `make check-sample` | Transcribe the AMI sample; print WER against `samples/ami/EN2002b-human.txt` (no gate); fail if any word differs from `samples/ami/EN2002b-reference.txt` |
 | `make test-fast` | pytest without the `slow` (real inference) tests |
 | `make test` | Whole suite; never touches `tmp/output` |
+| `make build` | `python -m build` into `dist/`, as CI does |
 | `make lint` | `ruff check` and `ruff format --check` |
 | `make format` | `ruff format` |
 | `make typecheck` | `mypy --strict` |
@@ -415,7 +416,7 @@ fails loudly.
    extend one that already covers it. Use synthetic fixtures where possible, and
    the slow whisper tests only when testing whisper behavior.
 6. Run `make lint`, `make typecheck` and `make test` before declaring done.
-   `lefthook install` runs `make lint typecheck test-fast` before every push (`lefthook.yml`).
+   `lefthook install` runs `make lint typecheck test-fast build` before every push (`lefthook.yml`).
 
 ## Common Pitfalls
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c029072..ee17f83 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 .PHONY: help check-deps setup install setup-whisper run run-single \
-        combine-transcripts filter-vtt session-env compare-transcripts create-sample-files sample-ami check-sample test test-fast lint format typecheck lint-pyrefly \
+        combine-transcripts filter-vtt session-env compare-transcripts create-sample-files sample-ami check-sample test test-fast build lint format typecheck lint-pyrefly \
         clean-output clean-tmp
 
 ROOT_DIR := $(shell pwd)
@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@ test: ## Run the whole suite, including real whisper/VAD inference
 test-fast: ## Run the suite without the slow inference tests
 	$(VENV_CMD) python -m pytest tests/ -v -m "not slow"
 
+build: ## Build the sdist and wheel into dist/, as CI does
+	$(VENV_CMD) python -m build
+
 lint: ## Run ruff check and ruff format --check
 	$(VENV_CMD) ruff check --output-format concise . && ruff format --check .
 
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index 2249a12..2e05a65 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ make check-sample                       # Transcribe the 4-speaker AMI sample; p
 make lint                               # ruff check and format check
 make format                             # ruff format
 make typecheck                          # mypy --strict
-lefthook install                        # Run lint, typecheck and test-fast before every push
+make build                              # sdist and wheel into dist/, as CI does
+lefthook install                        # Run lint, typecheck, test-fast and build before every push
 make clean-output                       # Delete every session's outputs under tmp/output
 ```
 
diff --git a/lefthook.yml b/lefthook.yml
index 21a91c0..b00f337 100644
--- a/lefthook.yml
+++ b/lefthook.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-# Runs what CI runs, minus the package build. Install once per clone: `lefthook install`.
+# Runs what CI runs. Install once per clone: `lefthook install`.
 pre-push:
   jobs:
     - name: check
       # Git's repo variables break tools run from a linked worktree.
-      run: unset $(git rev-parse --local-env-vars); make lint typecheck test-fast
+      run: unset $(git rev-parse --local-env-vars); make lint typecheck test-fast build
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 930a44a..700e32a 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ classifiers = [
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 dev = [
+    "build==1.6.1",
     "mypy==2.4.0",
     "pyrefly==1.4.0",
     "pytest==9.1.1",