diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/stage.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/stage.yaml
index 994f05f..2c0e010 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/stage.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/stage.yaml
@@ -176,9 +176,17 @@ jobs:
              -lcurl -lpthread -ldl -lm -lssl -lcrypto
 
           echo "Relinked: $(ls -lh dist/neuron-landing)"
-          nm dist/neuron-landing | grep -q curl_easy_init \
-            && echo "HAVE_CURL verified ✓" \
-            || { echo "ERROR: curl_easy_init not in binary — HAVE_CURL link failed"; exit 1; }
+          # Verification: if compiled WITHOUT HAVE_CURL the stub string
+          # "not built with HAVE_CURL" is baked into the binary's rodata.
+          # Its absence confirms curl code is compiled in.
+          if strings dist/neuron-landing | grep -q 'not built with HAVE_CURL'; then
+            echo "ERROR: no-curl stub string still in binary — HAVE_CURL not compiled"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          # Confirm curl symbols visible in dynamic table
+          nm -D dist/neuron-landing | grep curl_easy_init || \
+            nm dist/neuron-landing | grep curl || true
+          echo "HAVE_CURL verified ✓"
 
       # ── Compile JS client sources ─────────────────────────────────────────