diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index e8fd589..28289b7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
         id: chrome
       - name: gofmt
         run: |
-          unformatted=$(gofmt -s -l asset browser cli clone cmd robots sanitize urlx)
+          unformatted=$(gofmt -s -l .)
           if [ -n "$unformatted" ]; then
             echo "These files need gofmt -s -w:"
             echo "$unformatted"
@@ -101,3 +101,21 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           go mod tidy
           git diff --exit-code -- go.mod go.sum
+
+  # Compile the optional native-window viewer (-tags webview, cgo) so that path
+  # keeps building. The default CI build is pure Go and never touches it. The
+  # viewer code is the same Go on every OS, only the system WebView library
+  # differs, so a macOS compile (WebKit ships in the SDK) catches our
+  # regressions without the WebKitGTK version juggling Linux runners need. It is
+  # build-only: actually opening a window needs a display.
+  webview:
+    runs-on: macos-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+        with:
+          go-version-file: go.mod
+          check-latest: true
+          cache: true
+      - name: build webview viewer
+        run: CGO_ENABLED=1 go build -tags webview ./cmd/kage
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6fddfec..ecbfe4a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ kage pack paulgraham.com --format binary -o paulgraham
 ./paulgraham
 ```
 
-The appended archive is platform-independent; only the base executable carries the architecture. By default kage appends to itself, so you get a viewer for the machine you ran it on. Point `--base` at a kage built for another OS to produce a viewer for that platform from your own machine:
+The appended archive is platform-independent; only the base executable carries the architecture. By default kage appends to itself, so you get a viewer for the machine you ran it on. Point `--base` at a kage built for another OS (grab one from a [release](https://github.com/tamnd/kage/releases); every platform ships one) to produce a viewer for that platform from your own machine. kage reads the base's executable header to figure out the target, so a Windows viewer automatically gets a `.exe` name:
 
 ```bash
 # Sitting on a Mac, build a Windows viewer
diff --git a/docs/content/guides/packing-a-mirror.md b/docs/content/guides/packing-a-mirror.md
index a3ca6f2..a62bf02 100644
--- a/docs/content/guides/packing-a-mirror.md
+++ b/docs/content/guides/packing-a-mirror.md
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ The window title comes from the archive's title. This build needs cgo and links
 
 ### Build a viewer for another platform
 
-The appended archive is platform-independent; only the base executable carries the architecture. Point `--base` at a kage binary built for another OS (download one from a kage release) to produce a viewer for that platform from your own machine:
+The appended archive is platform-independent; only the base executable carries the architecture. Point `--base` at a kage binary built for another OS (download one from a kage release; every platform ships one) to produce a viewer for that platform from your own machine. kage reads the base's executable header to detect the target OS, so a Windows viewer automatically gets a `.exe` name and the run hint names the right platform:
 
 ```bash
 # From macOS, build a Windows viewer