diff --git a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/config.py b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/config.py
index 57b225187..56d34f6b6 100644
--- a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/config.py
+++ b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/config.py
@@ -1162,7 +1162,39 @@ def _build_runtime_env_vars(config: Config) -> list[str]:
     return env_vars
 
 
-def _get_node_pm_install_cmd(project_dir: pathlib.Path) -> str:
+# These run as part of the install step, before the source would be copied.
+_NODE_INSTALL_HOOKS = ("preinstall", "install", "postinstall", "prepare")
+
+
+def _splittable_node_manifests(
+    project_dir: pathlib.Path, lockfile: str | None
+) -> list[str] | None:
+    """Return manifests to copy before installing, or None if unsafe to split.
+
+    A lockfile is required: without one the install resolves versions at build
+    time, so a cached layer could pin an older resolution than a clean build.
+    """
+    if lockfile is None:
+        return None
+    manifest = project_dir / "package.json"
+    try:
+        if not manifest.is_file():
+            return None
+        with open(manifest) as f:
+            package_json = json.load(f)
+    except (OSError, ValueError):
+        return None
+    if not isinstance(package_json, dict):
+        return None
+    scripts = package_json.get("scripts") or {}
+    if any(hook in scripts for hook in _NODE_INSTALL_HOOKS):
+        return None
+    return ["package.json", lockfile]
+
+
+def _get_node_pm_install_cmd(project_dir: pathlib.Path) -> tuple[str, str | None]:
+    """Return the install command and the lockfile it was chosen from."""
+
     def test_file(file_name):
         full_path = project_dir / file_name
         try:
@@ -1201,13 +1233,19 @@ def _get_node_pm_install_cmd(project_dir: pathlib.Path) -> str:
 
     if yarn:
         install_cmd = "yarn install --frozen-lockfile"
+        lockfile = "yarn.lock"
     elif pnpm:
         install_cmd = "pnpm i --frozen-lockfile"
+        lockfile = "pnpm-lock.yaml"
     elif npm:
         install_cmd = "npm ci"
+        lockfile = "package-lock.json"
     elif bun:
         install_cmd = "bun i"
+        lockfile = "bun.lockb"
     else:
+        # No lockfile, so the install resolves versions at build time.
+        lockfile = None
         pkg_manager_name = get_pkg_manager_name()
 
         if pkg_manager_name == "yarn":
@@ -1219,7 +1257,7 @@ def _get_node_pm_install_cmd(project_dir: pathlib.Path) -> str:
         else:
             install_cmd = "npm i"
 
-    return install_cmd
+    return install_cmd, lockfile
 
 
 semver_pattern = re.compile(r":(\d+(?:\.\d+)?(?:\.\d+)?)(?:-|$)")
@@ -1423,7 +1461,7 @@ ADD {relpath} /deps/{name}
                 "# -- Installing JS dependencies --",
                 f"ENV NODE_VERSION={config.get('node_version') or DEFAULT_NODE_VERSION}",
                 f"WORKDIR {local_deps.working_dir}",
-                f"RUN {_get_node_pm_install_cmd(config_path.parent)} && tsx /api/langgraph_api/js/build.mts",
+                f"RUN {_get_node_pm_install_cmd(config_path.parent)[0]} && tsx /api/langgraph_api/js/build.mts",
                 "# -- End of JS dependencies install --",
             ]
         )
@@ -1492,7 +1530,9 @@ def node_config_to_docker(
     install_root = (
         pathlib.Path(build_context).resolve() if build_context else config_path.parent
     )
-    install_cmd = install_command or _get_node_pm_install_cmd(install_root)
+    detected_cmd, detected_lockfile = _get_node_pm_install_cmd(install_root)
+    install_cmd = install_command or detected_cmd
+    relative_workdir = ""
     if build_context:
         relative_workdir = _calculate_relative_workdir(config_path, build_context)
         container_name = pathlib.Path(build_context).name
@@ -1530,16 +1570,41 @@ def node_config_to_docker(
     else:
         build_workdir = faux_path
 
+    source_root = faux_path if not build_context else container_root
+
+    # Excluded: a custom install command may read files we have not copied yet,
+    # and a nested config means workspace manifests the root copy would miss.
+    manifests = (
+        _splittable_node_manifests(install_root, detected_lockfile)
+        if install_command is None and not relative_workdir
+        else None
+    )
+
+    if manifests:
+        add_steps = [
+            *(f"ADD {name} {source_root}/{name}" for name in manifests),
+            "",
+            f"WORKDIR {install_workdir}",
+            "",
+            install_step,
+            "",
+            f"ADD . {source_root}",
+        ]
+    else:
+        add_steps = [
+            f"ADD . {source_root}",
+            "",
+            f"WORKDIR {install_workdir}",
+            "",
+            install_step,
+        ]
+
     docker_file_contents = [
         f"FROM {image_str}",
         "",
         os.linesep.join(config["dockerfile_lines"]),
         "",
-        f"ADD . {faux_path if not build_context else container_root}",
-        "",
-        f"WORKDIR {install_workdir}",
-        "",
-        install_step,
+        *add_steps,
         "",
         os.linesep.join(env_vars),
         "",
diff --git a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/uv_lock.py b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/uv_lock.py
index 1e33d16d7..453812e6f 100644
--- a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/uv_lock.py
+++ b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/uv_lock.py
@@ -1019,7 +1019,7 @@ def python_config_to_docker_uv_lock(
         docker_plan.add_instruction("WORKDIR", plan.working_dir)
         docker_plan.add_instruction(
             "RUN",
-            f"{_get_node_pm_install_cmd(plan.target_root)} && "
+            f"{_get_node_pm_install_cmd(plan.target_root)[0]} && "
             "tsx /api/langgraph_api/js/build.mts",
         )
         docker_plan.add_raw("# -- End of JS dependencies install --")
diff --git a/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_config.py b/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_config.py
index c8b24020c..c6957b0a2 100644
--- a/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_config.py
+++ b/libs/cli/tests/unit_tests/test_config.py
@@ -3424,3 +3424,134 @@ class TestHasDisallowedBuildCommandContent:
     )
     def test_valid_commands_allowed(self, cmd: str) -> None:
         assert not has_disallowed_build_command_content(cmd)
+
+
+class TestNodeDependencyLayerOrdering:
+    """Dependency manifests are copied before source so the install layer caches.
+
+    Without this the first source change invalidates the install, and a JS
+    deployment reinstalls every dependency on every push.
+    """
+
+    def _project(
+        self,
+        tmp_path: pathlib.Path,
+        *,
+        lockfile: str | None,
+        scripts: dict[str, str] | None = None,
+    ) -> pathlib.Path:
+        package_json: dict = {"name": "agent"}
+        if scripts:
+            package_json["scripts"] = scripts
+        (tmp_path / "package.json").write_text(json.dumps(package_json))
+        if lockfile:
+            (tmp_path / lockfile).write_text("")
+        (tmp_path / "graphs").mkdir()
+        (tmp_path / "graphs" / "agent.js").write_text("")
+        config_path = tmp_path / "langgraph.json"
+        config_path.write_text("{}")
+        return config_path
+
+    def _dockerfile(self, config_path: pathlib.Path, **kwargs) -> str:
+        actual, _ = config_to_docker(
+            config_path,
+            validate_config(
+                {"node_version": "20", "graphs": {"agent": "./graphs/agent.js:graph"}}
+            ),
+            base_image="langchain/langgraphjs-api",
+            **kwargs,
+        )
+        return clean_empty_lines(actual)
+
+    def test_manifests_copied_before_install(self, tmp_path: pathlib.Path) -> None:
+        config_path = self._project(tmp_path, lockfile="package-lock.json")
+        lines = self._dockerfile(config_path).splitlines()
+
+        add_manifest = lines.index(
+            f"ADD package.json /deps/{tmp_path.name}/package.json"
+        )
+        add_lock = lines.index(
+            f"ADD package-lock.json /deps/{tmp_path.name}/package-lock.json"
+        )
+        install = lines.index("RUN npm ci")
+        add_source = lines.index(f"ADD . /deps/{tmp_path.name}")
+
+        assert add_manifest < install
+        assert add_lock < install
+        assert install < add_source
+
+    def test_lockfile_choice_follows_package_manager(
+        self, tmp_path: pathlib.Path
+    ) -> None:
+        config_path = self._project(tmp_path, lockfile="pnpm-lock.yaml")
+        dockerfile = self._dockerfile(config_path)
+
+        assert f"ADD pnpm-lock.yaml /deps/{tmp_path.name}/pnpm-lock.yaml" in dockerfile
+        assert "package-lock.json" not in dockerfile
+
+    def test_no_lockfile_keeps_source_first(self, tmp_path: pathlib.Path) -> None:
+        # No lockfile means the install resolves at build time, so caching it is wrong.
+        config_path = self._project(tmp_path, lockfile=None)
+        lines = self._dockerfile(config_path).splitlines()
+
+        assert lines.index(f"ADD . /deps/{tmp_path.name}") < lines.index("RUN npm i")
+        assert not any(line.startswith("ADD package.json") for line in lines)
+
+    def test_nested_config_keeps_source_first(self, tmp_path: pathlib.Path) -> None:
+        # A workspace keeps manifests in subdirectories the root copy would miss.
+        root = tmp_path / "repo"
+        root.mkdir()
+        (root / "package.json").write_text(json.dumps({"name": "root"}))
+        (root / "package-lock.json").write_text("")
+        pkg = root / "packages" / "agent"
+        pkg.mkdir(parents=True)
+        (pkg / "graphs").mkdir()
+        (pkg / "graphs" / "agent.js").write_text("")
+        config_path = pkg / "langgraph.json"
+        config_path.write_text("{}")
+
+        lines = self._dockerfile(config_path, build_context=str(root)).splitlines()
+
+        assert lines.index("ADD . /deps/repo") < lines.index("RUN npm ci")
+        assert not any(line.startswith("ADD package.json") for line in lines)
+
+    def test_custom_install_command_keeps_source_first(
+        self, tmp_path: pathlib.Path
+    ) -> None:
+        # A custom command may read files the manifest copy would not include.
+        config_path = self._project(tmp_path, lockfile="package-lock.json")
+        lines = self._dockerfile(
+            config_path,
+            install_command="npm run bootstrap",
+            build_context=str(tmp_path),
+        ).splitlines()
+
+        assert lines.index(f"ADD . /deps/{tmp_path.name}") < lines.index(
+            "RUN npm run bootstrap"
+        )
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "hook", ["preinstall", "install", "postinstall", "prepare"]
+    )
+    def test_install_hook_keeps_source_first(
+        self, tmp_path: pathlib.Path, hook: str
+    ) -> None:
+        # A hook referencing a project file would hit ENOENT: source is not copied yet.
+        config_path = self._project(
+            tmp_path,
+            lockfile="package-lock.json",
+            scripts={hook: "node scripts/setup.js"},
+        )
+        lines = self._dockerfile(config_path).splitlines()
+
+        assert lines.index(f"ADD . /deps/{tmp_path.name}") < lines.index("RUN npm ci")
+        assert not any(line.startswith("ADD package.json") for line in lines)
+
+    def test_only_the_chosen_lockfile_is_copied(self, tmp_path: pathlib.Path) -> None:
+        # Install picks yarn, so copying the npm lockfile would bust the cache for nothing.
+        config_path = self._project(tmp_path, lockfile="yarn.lock")
+        (tmp_path / "package-lock.json").write_text("")
+        dockerfile = self._dockerfile(config_path)
+
+        assert f"ADD yarn.lock /deps/{tmp_path.name}/yarn.lock" in dockerfile
+        assert "ADD package-lock.json" not in dockerfile