diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-windows.yml b/.github/workflows/build-windows.yml
index 1409796097a..94ed310d68c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-windows.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,20 @@ jobs:
         with:
           build-command: pnpm build
 
+      - name: Smoke test pnpm start -- -- --version
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: |
+          Write-Host "Running smoke test: pnpm start -- -- --version"
+
+          pnpm start -- -- --version
+
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+            Write-Host "`n❌ Smoke test failed (exit code: $LASTEXITCODE)"
+            exit $LASTEXITCODE
+          }
+
+          Write-Host "`n✓ Smoke test passed"
+
       - name: Send Slack notification on failure
         if: failure() && inputs.notify_on_failure == true
         uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@91efab103c0de0a537f72a35f6b8cda0ee76bf0a # v2.1.1
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7de744bca92..ca45e67b639 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -36,9 +36,7 @@
     "optimize-svg": "find ./packages -name '*.svg' ! -name 'pipedrive.svg' -print0 | xargs -0 -P16 -L20 npx svgo",
     "generate:third-party-licenses": "node scripts/generate-third-party-licenses.mjs",
     "setup-backend-module": "node scripts/ensure-zx.mjs && zx scripts/backend-module/setup.mjs",
-    "start": "run-script-os",
-    "start:default": "cd packages/cli/bin && ./n8n",
-    "start:windows": "cd packages/cli/bin && n8n",
+    "start": "node scripts/os-normalize.mjs --dir packages/cli/bin n8n",
     "test": "JEST_JUNIT_CLASSNAME={filepath} turbo run test",
     "test:ci": "turbo run test --continue --concurrency=1",
     "test:ci:frontend": "turbo run test --continue --filter='./packages/frontend/**'",
@@ -75,7 +73,6 @@
     "npm-run-all2": "^7.0.2",
     "p-limit": "^3.1.0",
     "rimraf": "^5.0.1",
-    "run-script-os": "^1.0.7",
     "supertest": "^7.1.1",
     "ts-jest": "^29.1.1",
     "tsc-alias": "^1.8.10",
diff --git a/packages/cli/package.json b/packages/cli/package.json
index a90a7b60e73..02378ecdd11 100644
--- a/packages/cli/package.json
+++ b/packages/cli/package.json
@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@
     "format:check": "biome ci .",
     "lint": "eslint . --quiet",
     "lint:fix": "eslint . --fix",
-    "start": "run-script-os",
-    "start:default": "cd bin && ./n8n",
-    "start:windows": "cd bin && n8n",
+    "start": "node ../../scripts/os-normalize.mjs --dir bin n8n",
     "test": "N8N_LOG_LEVEL=silent DB_SQLITE_POOL_SIZE=4 DB_TYPE=sqlite jest",
     "test:unit": "N8N_LOG_LEVEL=silent DB_SQLITE_POOL_SIZE=4 DB_TYPE=sqlite jest --config=jest.config.unit.js",
     "test:integration": "N8N_LOG_LEVEL=silent DB_SQLITE_POOL_SIZE=4 DB_TYPE=sqlite jest --config=jest.config.integration.js",
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index cfe1313c435..429e3741a9b 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -459,9 +459,6 @@ importers:
       rimraf:
         specifier: ^5.0.1
         version: 5.0.1
-      run-script-os:
-        specifier: ^1.0.7
-        version: 1.1.6
       supertest:
         specifier: ^7.1.1
         version: 7.1.1
@@ -16804,10 +16801,6 @@ packages:
   run-parallel@1.2.0:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-5l4VyZR86LZ/lDxZTR6jqL8AFE2S0IFLMP26AbjsLVADxHdhB/c0GUsH+y39UfCi3dzz8OlQuPmnaJOMoDHQBA==}
 
-  run-script-os@1.1.6:
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-ql6P2LzhBTTDfzKts+Qo4H94VUKpxKDFz6QxxwaUZN0mwvi7L3lpOI7BqPCq7lgDh3XLl0dpeXwfcVIitlrYrw==}
-    hasBin: true
-
   rusha@0.8.14:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-cLgakCUf6PedEu15t8kbsjnwIFFR2D4RfL+W3iWFJ4iac7z4B0ZI8fxy4R3J956kAI68HclCFGL8MPoUVC3qVA==}
 
@@ -35979,8 +35972,6 @@ snapshots:
     dependencies:
       queue-microtask: 1.2.3
 
-  run-script-os@1.1.6: {}
-
   rusha@0.8.14: {}
 
   rw@1.3.3: {}
diff --git a/pnpm-workspace.yaml b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
index 330b22f08bc..f5b707b097b 100644
--- a/pnpm-workspace.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-workspace.yaml
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ catalog:
   picocolors: 1.0.1
   reflect-metadata: 0.2.2
   rimraf: 6.0.1
-  run-script-os: 1.1.6
   simple-git: 3.28.0
   tsdown: ^0.16.5
   tsx: ^4.19.3
diff --git a/scripts/os-normalize.mjs b/scripts/os-normalize.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0e26366cca8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/os-normalize.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+/**
+ * Created to ease the running of binaries on cross-platform teams.
+ * Enabled writing startup scripts once, but defaulting to platform specific runners.
+ *
+ * Usage: node scripts/os-normalize.mjs --dir packages/cli/bin n8n
+ * Usage (with args): node scripts/os-normalize.mjs --dir packages/cli/bin -- n8n --help
+ * */
+
+import { $, argv, cd, chalk, echo, usePowerShell, fs } from 'zx';
+
+const isWindows = process.platform === 'win32';
+
+/**
+ * @param { string } baseName
+ * */
+function normalizeCommand(baseName) {
+	if (!isWindows) {
+		return `./${baseName}`;
+	}
+
+	const candidates = [`${baseName}.cmd`, `${baseName}.exe`, baseName];
+	const found = candidates.find((c) => fs.existsSync(c));
+	return found ? `./${found}` : `./${baseName}.cmd`; // last resort: try .cmd anyway
+}
+
+function determineShell() {
+	if (!isWindows) {
+		return;
+	}
+	usePowerShell();
+}
+
+function printUsage() {
+	echo(chalk.red('Usage: node scripts/os-normalize.mjs --dir <dir> <run>'));
+	echo(
+		chalk.red('Usage (with args): node scripts/os-normalize.mjs --dir <dir> -- <run> [args...]'),
+	);
+}
+
+const { dir = '.' } = argv;
+const [run, ...args] = argv._;
+
+if (!dir || !run) {
+	printUsage();
+	process.exit(2);
+}
+
+determineShell();
+$.verbose = true;
+
+cd(dir);
+const cmd = normalizeCommand(run);
+
+echo(chalk.cyan(`$ Running (dir: ${dir}) ${cmd} ${args.join(' ')}`));
+await $({ stdio: 'inherit' })`${cmd} ${args}`;