diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4a7bf501..157d2eb0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ git clone git@github.com:kinode-dao/kinode.git
 cd kinode
 cargo install wasm-tools
 rustup install nightly
-rustup target add wasm32-wasi
-rustup target add wasm32-wasi --toolchain nightly
-rustup target add wasm32-wasip1
 rustup target add wasm32-wasip1 --toolchain nightly
 cargo install cargo-wasi
 
@@ -43,11 +40,14 @@ cargo install cargo-wasi
 # https://docs.npmjs.com/downloading-and-installing-node-js-and-npm
 # If you want to skip this step, run cargo build with the environment variable SKIP_BUILD_FRONTEND=true
 
-# Build the runtime, along with a number of "distro" Wasm modules.
-# The compiled binary will be at `kinode/target/debug/kinode`
-# OPTIONAL: --release flag (slower build; faster runtime; binary at `kinode/target/release/kinode`)
+# Build the "distro" Wasm modules.
+# Then, build the runtime.
+# The compiled packages will be at `kinode/target/packages.zip`.
+# The compiled binary will be at `kinode/target/debug/kinode`.
+# OPTIONAL: --release flag (slower build; faster runtime; binary at `kinode/target/release/kinode`).
 
-cargo +nightly build -p kinode
+cargo run -p build_packages
+cargo build -p kinode
 ```
 
 ## Security Status
diff --git a/scripts/build-release.py b/scripts/build-release.py
index 4fd9fa09..8170dc05 100755
--- a/scripts/build-release.py
+++ b/scripts/build-release.py
@@ -27,14 +27,39 @@ def build_and_move(feature, tmp_dir, architecture, os_name):
 
     zip_prefix = f"kinode-{architecture}-{os_name}"
     release_env = os.environ.copy()
-    release_env["CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_LTO"] = f"fat"
-    release_env["CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_CODEGEN_UNITS"] = f"1"
-    release_env["CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_STRIP"] = f"symbols"
+    release_env["CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_LTO"] = "fat"
+    release_env["CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_CODEGEN_UNITS"] = "1"
+    release_env["CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_STRIP"] = "symbols"
     if feature:
-        subprocess.run(["cargo", "+nightly", "build", "--release", "-p", "kinode", "--features", feature], check=True, env=release_env)
+        release_env["PATH_TO_PACKAGES_ZIP"] = f"../target/packages-{feature}.zip"
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["cargo", "run", "-p", "build_packages", "--", "--features", feature],
+            check=True,
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+        )
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["cargo", "build", "--release", "-p", "kinode", "--features", feature],
+            check=True,
+            env=release_env,
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+        )
         zip_name = f"{zip_prefix}-{feature}.zip"
     else:
-        subprocess.run(["cargo", "+nightly", "build", "--release", "-p", "kinode"], check=True, env=release_env)
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["cargo", "run", "-p", "build_packages"],
+            check=True,
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+        )
+        subprocess.run(
+            ["cargo", "build", "--release", "-p", "kinode"],
+            check=True,
+            env=release_env,
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+        )
         zip_name = f"{zip_prefix}.zip"
 
     # Move and rename the binary
@@ -74,4 +99,3 @@ def main():
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()
-
diff --git a/scripts/build_packages/src/main.rs b/scripts/build_packages/src/main.rs
index bf0c8974..c5edbc3d 100644
--- a/scripts/build_packages/src/main.rs
+++ b/scripts/build_packages/src/main.rs
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 .help("Skip building the frontend")
                 .action(clap::ArgAction::SetTrue),
         )
+        .arg(
+            Arg::new("OUTPUT_FILENAME")
+                .long("output-filename")
+                .help("Set output filename (default: packages-{features}.zip)")
+                .action(clap::ArgAction::Set),
+        )
         .get_matches();
 
     // kinode/target/debug/build_package
@@ -126,12 +132,13 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         }
     }
 
-    let features = matches
+    let mut features = matches
         .get_many::<String>("FEATURES")
         .unwrap_or_default()
         .map(|s| s.to_owned())
-        .collect::<Vec<String>>()
-        .join(",");
+        .collect::<Vec<String>>();
+    features.sort();
+    let features = features.join(",");
 
     let results: Vec<anyhow::Result<(PathBuf, String, Vec<u8>)>> = fs::read_dir(&packages_dir)?
         .filter_map(|entry| {
@@ -182,7 +189,17 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let file_to_metadata_path = target_packages_dir.join("file_to_metadata.json");
     fs::write(&file_to_metadata_path, file_to_metadata)?;
 
-    let package_zip_path = target_dir.join("packages.zip");
+    let package_zip_file_name = match matches.get_one::<String>("OUTPUT_FILENAME") {
+        Some(filename) => filename.to_string(),
+        None => {
+            if features.is_empty() {
+                "packages.zip".to_string()
+            } else {
+                format!("packages-{features}.zip")
+            }
+        }
+    };
+    let package_zip_path = target_dir.join(package_zip_file_name);
     let package_zip_contents = zip_directory(&target_packages_dir)?;
     fs::write(package_zip_path, package_zip_contents)?;