diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a3f2cd8..527c5a5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -23,10 +23,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      # mcpp resolves nasm PATH-first; ubuntu-24.04 ships nasm >= 2.16.
-      - name: Install nasm
-        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y nasm && nasm --version
-
+      # No host nasm needed: mcpp >= 0.0.97 provisions nasm through the same
+      # synchronous gate as the toolchain (index refresh + install + payload
+      # check BEFORE the build plans, mcpp#232).
       - name: Install Xlings
         env:
           XLINGS_NON_INTERACTIVE: 1
diff --git a/.xlings.json b/.xlings.json
index 8ccd038..a5885cf 100644
--- a/.xlings.json
+++ b/.xlings.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "workspace": {
-    "xim:mcpp": "0.0.95"
-  }
+    "workspace": {
+        "xim:mcpp": "0.0.97"
+    }
 }