diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 4164ba5..dc6bc87 100644
Binary files a/dist/index.js and b/dist/index.js differ
diff --git a/src/install-pnpm/run.ts b/src/install-pnpm/run.ts
index b8c3e6f..ffcf3b8 100644
--- a/src/install-pnpm/run.ts
+++ b/src/install-pnpm/run.ts
@@ -67,11 +67,6 @@ export async function runSelfInstaller(inputs: Inputs): Promise<SelfInstallerRes
   addPath(pnpmHome)
   addPath(path.join(pnpmHome, 'bin'))
   exportVariable('PNPM_HOME', pnpmHome)
-  // Force pnpm to honor manage-package-manager-versions even when the project
-  // pins `devEngines.packageManager.onFail = "error"`. Without this override
-  // the bootstrap pnpm errors with BAD_PM_VERSION instead of switching to the
-  // requested version on the user's first invocation (issue #252).
-  exportVariable('pnpm_config_pm_on_fail', 'download')
 
   // Ensure pnpm bin link exists — npm ci sometimes doesn't create it
   if (process.platform !== 'win32') {
@@ -107,7 +102,12 @@ export async function runSelfInstaller(inputs: Inputs): Promise<SelfInstallerRes
   }
 
   // No explicit target version: rely on the bootstrap pnpm to switch to
-  // the version declared in packageManager/devEngines at runtime.
+  // the version declared in packageManager/devEngines at runtime. Force
+  // `pmOnFail=download` so a project that pins
+  // `devEngines.packageManager.onFail = "error"` doesn't trip BAD_PM_VERSION
+  // before the switch can happen (issue #252). Scoped to this branch so users
+  // who pass an explicit `version:` input keep strict onFail behavior.
+  exportVariable('pnpm_config_pm_on_fail', 'download')
   return { exitCode: 0, binDest: pnpmHome }
 }