diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index a9ed526..f93c7f9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -680,14 +680,33 @@ jobs:
           XGENY_INSTALL_DIR="$test_root/install" \
           XGENY_STATE_HOME="$test_root/state" \
             sh "$installer" --version "$RELEASE_TAG" >/dev/null
-          test "$("$test_root/install/${{ matrix.executable }}" --version)" = "xgeny ${RELEASE_TAG#v}"
-          "$test_root/install/${{ matrix.executable }}" licenses > "$test_root/licenses.txt"
+          installed="$test_root/install/${{ matrix.executable }}"
+          test "$("$installed" --version)" = "xgeny ${RELEASE_TAG#v}"
+          "$installed" licenses > "$test_root/licenses.txt"
           grep -Fq 'XGENy CLI Third-Party License Notices' "$test_root/licenses.txt"
           grep -Fq 'Copyright notices for The Rust Standard Library' "$test_root/licenses.txt"
           grep -Fq '===== musl C runtime notices =====' "$test_root/licenses.txt"
           grep -Fq '===== LLVM libunwind notices =====' "$test_root/licenses.txt"
           test ! -e "$test_root/state"
 
+          printf '/status\n/exit\n' \
+            | HOME="$test_root/home" \
+              XGENY_STATE_HOME="$test_root/state" \
+                "$installed" > "$test_root/repl.txt"
+          grep -Fq 'XGENy Developer Preview' "$test_root/repl.txt"
+          grep -Fq 'status: idle' "$test_root/repl.txt"
+          grep -Fq 'bye' "$test_root/repl.txt"
+          test ! -e "$test_root/state"
+
+          HOME="$test_root/home" \
+          XGENY_INSTALL_DIR="$test_root/install" \
+          XGENY_STATE_HOME="$test_root/state" \
+            sh "$installer" --version "$RELEASE_TAG" >/dev/null
+          test -f "$installed" && test ! -L "$installed"
+          test "$("$installed" --version)" = "xgeny ${RELEASE_TAG#v}"
+          test "$(find "$test_root/install" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 | wc -l)" -eq 1
+          test ! -e "$test_root/state"
+
           if [[ "$VERIFY_LATEST" == "true" && "$RELEASE_TAG" != *-* ]]; then
             latest_ok=false
             latest_installer="$test_root/xgeny-installer-latest.sh"
@@ -710,6 +729,10 @@ jobs:
             test ! -e "$test_root/state"
           fi
 
+          rm -f "$installed"
+          test ! -e "$installed"
+          test "$(find "$test_root/install" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 | wc -l)" -eq 0
+
       - name: Install exact published release on Windows
         if: runner.os == 'Windows'
         env:
@@ -750,6 +773,36 @@ jobs:
               if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $StateRoot) {
                   throw "published install created runtime state"
               }
+              $ReplOutput = (@("/status", "/exit") | & $Installed | Out-String)
+              $ReplExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE
+              if (
+                  $ReplExitCode -ne 0 -or
+                  -not $ReplOutput.Contains("XGENy Developer Preview") -or
+                  -not $ReplOutput.Contains("status: idle") -or
+                  -not $ReplOutput.Contains("bye")
+              ) {
+                  throw "published interactive lifecycle smoke failed"
+              }
+              if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $StateRoot) {
+                  throw "published interactive smoke created runtime state"
+              }
+              & $Installer -Version $Tag -InstallDir $InstallRoot | Out-Null
+              $InstallEntries = @(Get-ChildItem -Force -LiteralPath $InstallRoot)
+              if (
+                  $InstallEntries.Count -ne 1 -or
+                  $InstallEntries[0].Name -ne "${{ matrix.executable }}" -or
+                  $InstallEntries[0].PSIsContainer -or
+                  ($InstallEntries[0].Attributes -band [System.IO.FileAttributes]::ReparsePoint) -ne 0
+              ) {
+                  throw "published reinstall left an unexpected install layout"
+              }
+              $ReinstalledVersion = (& $Installed --version | Out-String).Trim()
+              if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0 -or $ReinstalledVersion -ne "xgeny $($Tag.Substring(1))") {
+                  throw "published reinstall produced the wrong version"
+              }
+              if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $StateRoot) {
+                  throw "published reinstall created runtime state"
+              }
               $LicenseOutput = (& $Installed licenses | Out-String)
               if (
                   $LASTEXITCODE -ne 0 -or
@@ -785,6 +838,13 @@ jobs:
                       throw "latest install created runtime state"
                   }
               }
+              Remove-Item -Force -LiteralPath $Installed
+              if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Installed) {
+                  throw "published binary removal failed"
+              }
+              if (@(Get-ChildItem -Force -LiteralPath $InstallRoot).Count -ne 0) {
+                  throw "published binary removal left install artifacts"
+              }
           } finally {
               $env:XGENY_STATE_HOME = $PreviousState
               $env:XGENY_DOWNLOAD_BASE_URL = $PreviousBase
@@ -970,6 +1030,35 @@ jobs:
           grep -Fq 'XGENy CLI Third-Party License Notices' "$test_root/licenses.txt"
           test ! -e "$test_root/state"
 
+          printf '/status\n/exit\n' \
+            | HOME="$test_root/home" \
+              XGENY_STATE_HOME="$test_root/state" \
+                "$test_root/install/bin/xgeny" > "$test_root/repl.txt"
+          grep -Fq 'XGENy Developer Preview' "$test_root/repl.txt"
+          grep -Fq 'status: idle' "$test_root/repl.txt"
+          grep -Fq 'bye' "$test_root/repl.txt"
+          test ! -e "$test_root/state"
+
+          HOME="$test_root/home" \
+          npm_config_cache="$test_root/cache" \
+            npm install --global --prefix "$test_root/install" \
+              --include=optional --ignore-scripts --no-audit --no-fund \
+              --registry=https://registry.npmjs.org/ \
+              "@xgen/cli@$version"
+          test -f "$global_root/@xgen/cli/package.json"
+          test -f "$global_root/@xgen/$PLATFORM_PACKAGE/package.json"
+          test "$(HOME="$test_root/home" XGENY_STATE_HOME="$test_root/state" \
+            "$test_root/install/bin/xgeny" --version)" = "xgeny $version"
+          test ! -e "$test_root/state"
+
+          HOME="$test_root/home" \
+          npm_config_cache="$test_root/cache" \
+            npm uninstall --global --prefix "$test_root/install" \
+              --ignore-scripts --no-audit --no-fund '@xgen/cli'
+          test ! -e "$global_root/@xgen/cli"
+          test ! -e "$global_root/@xgen/$PLATFORM_PACKAGE"
+          test ! -e "$test_root/install/bin/xgeny"
+
       - name: Install and verify exact npm package on Windows
         if: runner.os == 'Windows'
         env:
@@ -1024,6 +1113,53 @@ jobs:
               if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $StateRoot) {
                   throw "npm install or verification created runtime state"
               }
+              $ReplOutput = (@("/status", "/exit") | & $Shim | Out-String)
+              $ReplExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE
+              if (
+                  $ReplExitCode -ne 0 -or
+                  -not $ReplOutput.Contains("XGENy Developer Preview") -or
+                  -not $ReplOutput.Contains("status: idle") -or
+                  -not $ReplOutput.Contains("bye")
+              ) {
+                  throw "npm-installed interactive lifecycle smoke failed"
+              }
+              if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $StateRoot) {
+                  throw "npm-installed interactive smoke created runtime state"
+              }
+
+              & npm.cmd install --global --prefix $InstallRoot `
+                --include=optional --ignore-scripts --no-audit --no-fund `
+                --registry=https://registry.npmjs.org/ `
+                "@xgen/cli@$Version"
+              if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "npm reinstall failed" }
+              $Reinstalled = (& $Shim --version | Out-String).Trim()
+              if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0 -or $Reinstalled -ne "xgeny $Version") {
+                  throw "npm reinstall produced the wrong version"
+              }
+              if (
+                  -not (Test-Path -LiteralPath (Join-Path $GlobalRoot "@xgen/cli/package.json")) -or
+                  -not (Test-Path -LiteralPath (Join-Path $GlobalRoot "@xgen/$env:PLATFORM_PACKAGE/package.json"))
+              ) {
+                  throw "npm reinstall is missing an exact package"
+              }
+              if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $StateRoot) {
+                  throw "npm reinstall created runtime state"
+              }
+
+              & npm.cmd uninstall --global --prefix $InstallRoot `
+                --ignore-scripts --no-audit --no-fund "@xgen/cli"
+              if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "npm uninstall failed" }
+              if (
+                  (Test-Path -LiteralPath (Join-Path $GlobalRoot "@xgen/cli")) -or
+                  (Test-Path -LiteralPath (Join-Path $GlobalRoot "@xgen/$env:PLATFORM_PACKAGE"))
+              ) {
+                  throw "npm uninstall left package artifacts"
+              }
+              foreach ($ShimName in @("xgeny", "xgeny.cmd", "xgeny.ps1")) {
+                  if (Test-Path -LiteralPath (Join-Path $InstallRoot $ShimName)) {
+                      throw "npm uninstall left an executable shim"
+                  }
+              }
           } finally {
               $env:HOME = $PreviousHome
               $env:USERPROFILE = $PreviousUserProfile
diff --git a/npm/scripts/smoke.mjs b/npm/scripts/smoke.mjs
index eafa594..6295086 100644
--- a/npm/scripts/smoke.mjs
+++ b/npm/scripts/smoke.mjs
@@ -194,9 +194,6 @@ async function main() {
       `${launcher.name}@${version}`,
     ]);
     await run(install.command, install.args, { env: npmEnvironment });
-    server.close();
-    await once(server, 'close');
-    server = null;
 
     assert.deepEqual(new Set(requestedTarballs), new Set([launcher.name, specification.packageName]));
     const root = npmInvocation(['root', '--global', '--prefix', installRoot]);
@@ -251,8 +248,37 @@ async function main() {
     assert.match(interactiveResult.stdout, /status: idle/);
     assert.match(interactiveResult.stdout, /bye/);
     await assert.rejects(lstat(state), (error) => error.code === 'ENOENT');
+
+    await run(install.command, install.args, { env: npmEnvironment });
+    assert.equal(JSON.parse(await readFile(installedLauncher, 'utf8')).version, version);
+    assert.equal(JSON.parse(await readFile(installedPlatform, 'utf8')).version, version);
+    await assert.rejects(lstat(state), (error) => error.code === 'ENOENT');
+
+    server.close();
+    await once(server, 'close');
+    server = null;
+
+    const uninstall = npmInvocation([
+      'uninstall',
+      '--global',
+      '--prefix',
+      installRoot,
+      '--ignore-scripts',
+      '--no-audit',
+      '--no-fund',
+      launcher.name,
+    ]);
+    await run(uninstall.command, uninstall.args, { env: npmEnvironment });
+    await assert.rejects(lstat(installedLauncher), (error) => error.code === 'ENOENT');
+    await assert.rejects(lstat(installedPlatform), (error) => error.code === 'ENOENT');
+    const installedShims = process.platform === 'win32'
+      ? ['xgeny', 'xgeny.cmd', 'xgeny.ps1'].map((name) => path.join(installRoot, name))
+      : [path.join(installRoot, 'bin', 'xgeny')];
+    for (const installedShim of installedShims) {
+      await assert.rejects(lstat(installedShim), (error) => error.code === 'ENOENT');
+    }
     console.log(
-      `npm global install smoke: PASS (${launcher.name} -> ${specification.packageName} ${version})`,
+      `npm install/reinstall/remove smoke: PASS (${launcher.name} -> ${specification.packageName} ${version})`,
     );
   } finally {
     if (server) {
diff --git a/scripts/check-npm-distribution-workflow.sh b/scripts/check-npm-distribution-workflow.sh
index 5499dcf..8ef6c5e 100755
--- a/scripts/check-npm-distribution-workflow.sh
+++ b/scripts/check-npm-distribution-workflow.sh
@@ -10,16 +10,21 @@ if [ "$#" -gt 1 ]; then
 fi
 workflow=${1:-"$repo_root/.github/workflows/release.yml"}
 
-python3 - "$workflow" "$repo_root/npm/scripts/publish.mjs" <<'PY'
+python3 - \
+    "$workflow" \
+    "$repo_root/npm/scripts/publish.mjs" \
+    "$repo_root/npm/scripts/smoke.mjs" <<'PY'
 from pathlib import Path
 import re
 import sys
 
 workflow = Path(sys.argv[1])
 publisher = Path(sys.argv[2])
+smoke = Path(sys.argv[3])
 lines = workflow.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines()
 text = "\n".join(lines)
 publisher_text = publisher.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+smoke_text = smoke.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
 
 def fail(message: str) -> None:
@@ -86,6 +91,11 @@ for fragment in (
     "--include=optional --ignore-scripts",
     '"@xgen/cli@$version"',
     '"@xgen/cli@$Version"',
+    "printf '/status\\n/exit\\n'",
+    "status: idle",
+    'npm uninstall --global --prefix "$test_root/install"',
+    "& npm.cmd uninstall --global --prefix $InstallRoot",
+    "npm uninstall left package artifacts",
 ):
     if fragment not in verify_job:
         fail(f"published npm verification is missing: {fragment}")
@@ -103,5 +113,18 @@ for fragment in (
     if fragment not in publisher_text:
         fail(f"npm publisher is missing required safety contract: {fragment}")
 
+for fragment in (
+    "const uninstall = npmInvocation([",
+    "await assert.rejects(lstat(installedLauncher)",
+    "await assert.rejects(lstat(installedPlatform)",
+    "npm install/reinstall/remove smoke: PASS",
+):
+    if fragment not in smoke_text:
+        fail(f"npm package smoke is missing lifecycle verification: {fragment}")
+
+install_invocation = "await run(install.command, install.args, { env: npmEnvironment });"
+if smoke_text.count(install_invocation) != 2:
+    fail("npm package smoke must install the exact package twice")
+
 print("npm release workflow contract: PASS")
 PY
diff --git a/scripts/check-release-workflow.sh b/scripts/check-release-workflow.sh
index 9b1db83..03cc81a 100644
--- a/scripts/check-release-workflow.sh
+++ b/scripts/check-release-workflow.sh
@@ -136,5 +136,34 @@ if actual_invocation != expected_invocation:
         "the classified release flags"
     )
 
+verify_starts = [index for index, line in enumerate(lines) if line == "  verify-published:"]
+if len(verify_starts) != 1:
+    raise SystemExit(
+        f"{workflow}: expected one verify-published job, found {len(verify_starts)}"
+    )
+verify_start = verify_starts[0]
+verify_end = next(
+    (
+        index
+        for index in range(verify_start + 1, len(lines))
+        if lines[index] == "  publish-npm:"
+    ),
+    len(lines),
+)
+verify_job = "\n".join(lines[verify_start:verify_end])
+for fragment in (
+    "printf '/status\\n/exit\\n'",
+    "status: idle",
+    'sh "$installer" --version "$RELEASE_TAG"',
+    'rm -f "$installed"',
+    '$ReplOutput = (@("/status", "/exit")',
+    "published reinstall produced the wrong version",
+    "Remove-Item -Force -LiteralPath $Installed",
+):
+    if fragment not in verify_job:
+        raise SystemExit(
+            f"{workflow}: published native lifecycle verification is missing: {fragment}"
+        )
+
 print("release publisher context contract: PASS")
 PY