diff --git a/bastion/src/bastion/src/routes/asahi.ts b/bastion/src/bastion/src/routes/asahi.ts
index 982a0e5..3622cab 100644
--- a/bastion/src/bastion/src/routes/asahi.ts
+++ b/bastion/src/bastion/src/routes/asahi.ts
@@ -87,8 +87,13 @@ tar xf "installer-\${PKG_VER}.tar.gz"
 echo "  Downloading custom installer data from bastion..."
 curl -sfL -o installer_data.json "\${BASTION}/asahi/installer_data.json"
 
-# Set REPO_BASE so the installer downloads rootfs from bastion (local, fast)
-export REPO_BASE="\${BASTION}/asahi/repo/"
+# Pre-download the rootfs package (avoids Python HTTP streaming issues on macOS)
+echo "  Downloading rootfs package from bastion..."
+mkdir -p os
+curl -# -L -o os/fedora-asahi-lab.zip "\${BASTION}/asahi/repo/fedora-asahi-lab.zip"
+
+# Point installer to local directory (REPO_BASE + /os/ + package name)
+export REPO_BASE="\${PWD}"
 
 echo ""
 echo "  Using custom partition layout + rootfs from bastion."