diff --git a/.npmrc b/.npmrc
index 3e775efb0..ad683a47c 100644
--- a/.npmrc
+++ b/.npmrc
@@ -1 +1,7 @@
 auto-install-peers=true
+
+# Enforce the root `engines` range at install time instead of documenting it.
+# Root package.json declares node >=22.11 / pnpm >=10; without this flag those
+# are advisory and an unsupported toolchain fails later, in confusing ways.
+# If this refused your install: upgrade node/pnpm to the declared floors.
+engine-strict=true