diff --git a/tools/selfhost/selfhost_build.sh b/tools/selfhost/selfhost_build.sh
index b736898f..63af8067 100644
--- a/tools/selfhost/selfhost_build.sh
+++ b/tools/selfhost/selfhost_build.sh
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ fi
 
 IN=""
 JSON_OUT=""
+EXE_OUT=""
 DO_RUN=0
 
 while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
     --in) IN="$2"; shift 2;;
     --json) JSON_OUT="$2"; shift 2;;
     --run) DO_RUN=1; shift;;
+    --exe) EXE_OUT="$2"; shift 2;;
     *) echo "[selfhost] unknown arg: $1" >&2; exit 2;;
   esac
 done
@@ -71,6 +73,26 @@ if [ -n "$JSON_OUT" ]; then
   echo "[selfhost] JSON v0 written: $tmp_json" >&2
 fi
 
+# Optional: build native EXE via ny-llvmc harness (fallback path; parses original source)
+if [ -n "$EXE_OUT" ]; then
+  # Requirements: ny-llvmc present and harness envs
+  NYLL="${NYASH_NY_LLVM_COMPILER:-$ROOT/target/release/ny-llvmc}"
+  if [ ! -x "$NYLL" ] && [ ! -f "$NYLL" ]; then
+    echo "[selfhost] ny-llvmc not found: $NYLL (skip EXE). Set NYASH_NY_LLVM_COMPILER or build ny-llvmc" >&2
+    exit 2
+  fi
+  NYRT_DIR="${NYASH_EMIT_EXE_NYRT:-$ROOT/target/release}"
+  export NYASH_LLVM_USE_HARNESS=1
+  export NYASH_NY_LLVM_COMPILER="$NYLL"
+  export NYASH_EMIT_EXE_NYRT="$NYRT_DIR"
+  echo "[selfhost] emitting EXE via ny-llvmc → $EXE_OUT" >&2
+  # Note: This path compiles the original Hako source via LLVM backend. Stage‑B JSON is emitted above for reference.
+  "$BIN" --backend llvm --emit-exe "$EXE_OUT" "$IN"
+  # Done
+  if [ -z "$JSON_OUT" ]; then rm -f "$tmp_json" 2>/dev/null || true; fi
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 if [ "$DO_RUN" = "1" ]; then
   # Run via Core‑Direct (in‑proc), quiet
   set +e
@@ -85,4 +107,3 @@ else
   # Emit-only
   echo "$tmp_json"
 fi
-
diff --git a/tools/smokes/v2/profiles/quick/selfhost/selfhost_build_exe_return.sh b/tools/smokes/v2/profiles/quick/selfhost/selfhost_build_exe_return.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cba999b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/smokes/v2/profiles/quick/selfhost/selfhost_build_exe_return.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# selfhost_build_exe_return.sh — Build EXE via tools/selfhost_build.sh (opt‑in)
+
+set -euo pipefail
+if [ "${SMOKES_ENABLE_SELFHOST:-0}" != "1" ]; then
+  echo "[SKIP] selfhost_build_exe_return (SMOKES_ENABLE_SELFHOST=1 to enable)"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+ROOT="$(git -C "$SCRIPT_DIR" rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/../../../../../../.." && pwd)"
+source "$ROOT/tools/smokes/v2/lib/test_runner.sh"
+require_env || exit 2
+
+# Check ny-llvmc
+NYLL="${NYASH_NY_LLVM_COMPILER:-$ROOT/target/release/ny-llvmc}"
+if [ ! -f "$NYLL" ]; then
+  echo "[SKIP] selfhost_build_exe_return (ny-llvmc not found)"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+tmp_hako="/tmp/selfhost_exe_return7_$$.hako"
+tmp_exe="/tmp/selfhost_exe_return7_$$.out"
+cat > "$tmp_hako" <<'HAKO'
+static box Main { method main(args) { return 7 } }
+HAKO
+
+"$ROOT/tools/selfhost/selfhost_build.sh" --in "$tmp_hako" --exe "$tmp_exe" >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "[FAIL] selfhost_build_exe_return (build failed)" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+set +e
+"$tmp_exe" >/dev/null 2>&1
+rc=$?
+set -e
+rm -f "$tmp_hako" "$tmp_exe" 2>/dev/null || true
+
+if [ "$rc" = "7" ]; then
+  echo "[PASS] selfhost_build_exe_return"
+else
+  echo "[FAIL] selfhost_build_exe_return (rc=$rc)" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+