diff --git a/.github/workflows/microsoft-test-react-native-macos-init.yml b/.github/workflows/microsoft-test-react-native-macos-init.yml
index d16c97c42ffc..cf5543cb372a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/microsoft-test-react-native-macos-init.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/microsoft-test-react-native-macos-init.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ jobs:
         run: yarn install
 
       - name: Build community CLI plugin
-        run: yarn build
+        run: |
+          yarn build
+          # yarn build rewrites package.json exports; restore them
+          git checkout -- packages/*/package.json
 
       - name: Build react-native-macos-init
         working-directory: packages/react-native-macos-init
@@ -47,11 +50,21 @@ jobs:
           npx --yes @react-native-community/cli init testcli --version ${{ steps.rn-version.outputs.version }}
         working-directory: ${{ runner.temp }}
 
+      - name: Pack local react-native-macos
+        working-directory: packages/react-native
+        run: |
+          set -eox pipefail
+          # Use a tarball instead of a direct path to avoid symlinks
+          yarn pack -o ${{ runner.temp }}/react-native-macos.tgz
+
       - name: Install local react-native-macos
         working-directory: ${{ runner.temp }}/testcli
         run: |
           set -eox pipefail
-          npm install ${{ github.workspace }}/packages/react-native
+          npm install ${{ runner.temp }}/react-native-macos.tgz
+          # yarn pack strips execute bits from shell scripts.
+          # publishConfig.executableFiles could fix this but doesn't support globs.
+          find node_modules/react-native-macos/scripts -name '*.sh' -exec chmod +x {} +
 
       - name: Apply macOS template
         working-directory: ${{ runner.temp }}/testcli
diff --git a/packages/react-native/package.json b/packages/react-native/package.json
index a6d621593015..ee0a1c4f9a8d 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/package.json
+++ b/packages/react-native/package.json
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@
     "rn-get-polyfills.js",
     "scripts/replace-rncore-version.js",
     "scripts/bundle.js",
-    "scripts/cocoapods",
-    "scripts/codegen",
+    "scripts/cocoapods/**",
+    "scripts/codegen/**",
     "scripts/compose-source-maps.js",
     "scripts/find-node-for-xcode.sh",
     "scripts/generate-codegen-artifacts.js",
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@
     "scripts/xcode/ccache.conf",
     "scripts/xcode/with-environment.sh",
     "sdks/.hermesversion",
-    "sdks/hermes-engine",
+    "sdks/hermes-engine/**",
     "sdks/hermesc",
     "settings.gradle.kts",
     "src",
diff --git a/packages/react-native/react-native.config.js b/packages/react-native/react-native.config.js
index 4fc760e979c0..a34cefa6cf07 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/react-native.config.js
+++ b/packages/react-native/react-native.config.js
@@ -71,13 +71,8 @@ try {
 // [macOS
 let apple;
 try {
-  const iosPath = require.resolve('@react-native-community/cli-platform-ios', {
-    paths: [process.cwd()],
-  });
-  // $FlowFixMe[untyped-import]
   apple = findCommunityPlatformPackage(
     '@react-native-community/cli-platform-apple',
-    iosPath,
   );
 } catch {
   if (verbose) {