diff --git a/apps/simplex-support-bot/README.md b/apps/simplex-support-bot/README.md
index 8e9d244d97..d95aa5b59b 100644
--- a/apps/simplex-support-bot/README.md
+++ b/apps/simplex-support-bot/README.md
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ Run `npm start -- --help` for the auto-generated reference. Summary:
 |---|---|
 | `GROK_API_KEY` | xAI API key; enables Grok replies |
 | `SIMPLEX_LIBS_DIR` | directory with a local libsimplex build for the `--db` backend, instead of the downloaded one |
+| `SIMPLEX_ADDON_PATH` | locally built Node.js add-on (`simplex.node`), instead of the downloaded one |
 
 ## Local development against unreleased lib changes
 
@@ -71,10 +72,12 @@ This package depends on `simplex-chat` from npm. To test against an in-tree vers
 
 ```bash
 # In packages/simplex-chat-nodejs
+npm install && npm run build
 npm link
 
 # In apps/simplex-support-bot
 npm link simplex-chat
+export SIMPLEX_ADDON_PATH=../../packages/simplex-chat-nodejs/build/Release/simplex.node
 ```
 
 `npm unlink simplex-chat && npm install` reverts to the registry version.
diff --git a/apps/simplex-support-bot/src/config.ts b/apps/simplex-support-bot/src/config.ts
index e180a2279f..be33db0c38 100644
--- a/apps/simplex-support-bot/src/config.ts
+++ b/apps/simplex-support-bot/src/config.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ function buildCommand(): Command {
     .option("--complete-hours <n>", "auto-complete chats after N hours idle (0 disables)", parseNonNegativeInt("--complete-hours"), 3)
     .option("--card-flush-seconds <n>", "debounce card state writes", parseNonNegativeInt("--card-flush-seconds"), 300)
     .option("--context-file <path>", "text file with Grok system context (required if GROK_API_KEY set)")
-    .addHelpText("after", "\nEnvironment:\n  GROK_API_KEY      xAI API key — enables Grok replies\n  SIMPLEX_LIBS_DIR  local libsimplex build for the --db backend\n")
+    .addHelpText("after", "\nEnvironment:\n  GROK_API_KEY        xAI API key — enables Grok replies\n  SIMPLEX_LIBS_DIR    local libsimplex build for the --db backend\n  SIMPLEX_ADDON_PATH  locally built Node.js add-on\n")
 }
 
 interface RawOpts {