diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
index 1656d4f16fe..a1afd7aa6a8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ jobs:
   # on the runner VM's systemd and require the installed service to end up
   # serving.
   smoke_service:
+    # Disabled while onboarding's service install is stubbed out (#12156):
+    # the script drives `onboard --yes --install-service`, which is inert
+    # until the flow is reworked. Re-enable together with that rework.
+    if: ${{ false }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 30
 
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/onboard.ts b/cli/src/commands/onboard.ts
index db94cb24a75..125f680f40d 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/onboard.ts
+++ b/cli/src/commands/onboard.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ import {
   trackInstallStarted,
   trackInstallCompleted,
 } from "../telemetry.js";
-import { handleOnboardService, shouldOfferForegroundStart } from "../onboard-service.js";
+// handleOnboardService is parked with the disabled call sites below.
+import { shouldOfferForegroundStart } from "../onboard-service.js";
 import { readInstallManifest, isManagedExecutable } from "../install-store.js";
 
 type SetupMode = "quickstart" | "advanced";
@@ -456,7 +457,11 @@ export async function onboard(opts: OnboardOptions): Promise<void> {
     );
 
     printManagedInstallHint();
-    const serviceInstalled = await handleOnboardService(opts);
+    // Disabled while onboarding's service install is reworked: the step kept
+    // shipping broken first runs (#12148, #12153, #12155). The explicit path
+    // (`paperclipai install`, then `paperclipai service install`) still works.
+    // const serviceInstalled = await handleOnboardService(opts);
+    const serviceInstalled = false;
 
     let shouldRunNow = !serviceInstalled && (opts.run === true || opts.yes === true);
     if (shouldOfferForegroundStart({ serviceInstalled, startAlreadyDecided: shouldRunNow, invokedByRun: opts.invokedByRun === true, interactive: Boolean(process.stdin.isTTY && process.stdout.isTTY) })) {
@@ -722,7 +727,11 @@ export async function onboard(opts: OnboardOptions): Promise<void> {
     await bootstrapCeoInvite({ config: configPath });
   }
 
-  const serviceInstalled = await handleOnboardService(opts);
+  // Disabled while onboarding's service install is reworked: the step kept
+  // shipping broken first runs (#12148, #12153, #12155). The explicit path
+  // (`paperclipai install`, then `paperclipai service install`) still works.
+  // const serviceInstalled = await handleOnboardService(opts);
+  const serviceInstalled = false;
 
   let shouldRunNow = !serviceInstalled && (opts.run === true || opts.yes === true);
   if (shouldOfferForegroundStart({ serviceInstalled, startAlreadyDecided: shouldRunNow, invokedByRun: opts.invokedByRun === true, interactive: Boolean(process.stdin.isTTY && process.stdout.isTTY) })) {
diff --git a/scripts/service-onboard-smoke.test.mjs b/scripts/service-onboard-smoke.test.mjs
index b859cd3f1bb..49c1454b020 100644
--- a/scripts/service-onboard-smoke.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/service-onboard-smoke.test.mjs
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ test("smoke script keeps its load-bearing assertions", () => {
 
 test("release-smoke workflow runs the service leg against the input version", () => {
   assert.match(smokeWorkflow, /^  smoke_service:$/m);
+  // The job is parked with onboarding's stubbed-out service install (#12156);
+  // this pin forces the re-enable to be a conscious change.
+  assert.match(smokeWorkflow, /if: \$\{\{ false \}\}/);
   assert.match(smokeWorkflow, /scripts\/service-onboard-smoke\.sh/);
   const serviceJob = smokeWorkflow.split(/^  smoke:$/m)[0];
   assert.match(serviceJob, /PAPERCLIPAI_VERSION: \$\{\{ inputs\.paperclip_version \}\}/);