diff --git a/.claude-plugin/.mcp.json b/.claude-plugin/.mcp.json
index b1e81ed81..dd7d55d74 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/.mcp.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/.mcp.json
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 {
   "mempalace": {
-    "command": "python3",
-    "args": [
-      "-m",
-      "mempalace.mcp_server"
-    ]
+    "command": "mempalace-mcp"
   }
 }
diff --git a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index ba5759afc..150431458 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -9,11 +9,7 @@
   "commands": [],
   "mcpServers": {
     "mempalace": {
-      "command": "python3",
-      "args": [
-        "-m",
-        "mempalace.mcp_server"
-      ]
+      "command": "mempalace-mcp"
     }
   },
   "keywords": [
diff --git a/.codex-plugin/hooks/mempal-hook.sh b/.codex-plugin/hooks/mempal-hook.sh
index 1cc005014..6d1113a41 100644
--- a/.codex-plugin/hooks/mempal-hook.sh
+++ b/.codex-plugin/hooks/mempal-hook.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 HOOK_NAME="${1:?Usage: mempal-hook.sh <hook-name>}"
 INPUT_FILE=$(mktemp) || { echo "Failed to create temp file" >&2; exit 1; }
 cat > "$INPUT_FILE"
-cat "$INPUT_FILE" | python3 -m mempalace hook run --hook "$HOOK_NAME" --harness codex
+cat "$INPUT_FILE" | mempalace hook run --hook "$HOOK_NAME" --harness codex
 EXIT_CODE=$?
 rm -f "$INPUT_FILE" 2>/dev/null
 exit $EXIT_CODE
diff --git a/.codex-plugin/plugin.json b/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
index 9017d9b14..7a2278ad0 100644
--- a/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -21,11 +21,7 @@
   "hooks": "./hooks.json",
   "mcpServers": {
     "mempalace": {
-      "command": "python3",
-      "args": [
-        "-m",
-        "mempalace.mcp_server"
-      ]
+      "command": "mempalace-mcp"
     }
   },
   "interface": {
diff --git a/examples/mcp_setup.md b/examples/mcp_setup.md
index 9bc26dd61..2b7e1c3bf 100644
--- a/examples/mcp_setup.md
+++ b/examples/mcp_setup.md
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 Run the MCP server:
 
 ```bash
-python -m mempalace.mcp_server
+mempalace-mcp
 ```
 
 Or add it to Claude Code:
 
 ```bash
-claude mcp add mempalace -- python -m mempalace.mcp_server
+claude mcp add mempalace -- mempalace-mcp
 ```
 
 ## Available Tools
diff --git a/hooks/mempal_precompact_hook.sh b/hooks/mempal_precompact_hook.sh
index 3a74ca54e..25d918c42 100755
--- a/hooks/mempal_precompact_hook.sh
+++ b/hooks/mempal_precompact_hook.sh
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ echo "[$(date '+%H:%M:%S')] PRE-COMPACT triggered for session $SESSION_ID" >> "$
 if [ -n "$MEMPAL_DIR" ] && [ -d "$MEMPAL_DIR" ]; then
     SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
     REPO_DIR="$(dirname "$SCRIPT_DIR")"
-    python3 -m mempalace mine "$MEMPAL_DIR" >> "$STATE_DIR/hook.log" 2>&1
+    mempalace mine "$MEMPAL_DIR" >> "$STATE_DIR/hook.log" 2>&1
 fi
 
 # Silent: return empty JSON to not block. "decision": "allow" is invalid —
diff --git a/hooks/mempal_save_hook.sh b/hooks/mempal_save_hook.sh
index d8e7cc248..c2ea745e0 100755
--- a/hooks/mempal_save_hook.sh
+++ b/hooks/mempal_save_hook.sh
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ if [ "$SINCE_LAST" -ge "$SAVE_INTERVAL" ] && [ "$EXCHANGE_COUNT" -gt 0 ]; then
     # 1. TRANSCRIPT_PATH (from Claude Code) — mine the directory it lives in
     # 2. MEMPAL_DIR (user-configured) — mine that directory
     # At least one should work. If neither is set, nothing mines.
-    PYTHON="$(command -v python3)"
     MINE_DIR=""
     if [ -n "$TRANSCRIPT_PATH" ] && [ -f "$TRANSCRIPT_PATH" ]; then
         MINE_DIR="$(dirname "$TRANSCRIPT_PATH")"
@@ -153,7 +152,7 @@ if [ "$SINCE_LAST" -ge "$SAVE_INTERVAL" ] && [ "$EXCHANGE_COUNT" -gt 0 ]; then
         MINE_DIR="$MEMPAL_DIR"
     fi
     if [ -n "$MINE_DIR" ]; then
-        "$PYTHON" -m mempalace mine "$MINE_DIR" >> "$STATE_DIR/hook.log" 2>&1 &
+        mempalace mine "$MINE_DIR" >> "$STATE_DIR/hook.log" 2>&1 &
     fi
 
     # MEMPAL_VERBOSE toggle:
diff --git a/mempalace/cli.py b/mempalace/cli.py
index a5d3c7dda..621b295fd 100644
--- a/mempalace/cli.py
+++ b/mempalace/cli.py
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ def cmd_instructions(args):
 
 def cmd_mcp(args):
     """Show how to wire MemPalace into MCP-capable hosts."""
-    base_server_cmd = "python -m mempalace.mcp_server"
+    base_server_cmd = "mempalace-mcp"
 
     if args.palace:
         resolved_palace = str(Path(args.palace).expanduser())
diff --git a/mempalace/instructions/init.md b/mempalace/instructions/init.md
index 40f0c20dd..570a52541 100644
--- a/mempalace/instructions/init.md
+++ b/mempalace/instructions/init.md
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ If this fails, report the error and stop.
 
 Run the following command to register the MemPalace MCP server with Claude:
 
-    claude mcp add mempalace -- python -m mempalace.mcp_server
+    claude mcp add mempalace -- mempalace-mcp
 
 If this fails, report the error but continue to the next step (MCP
 configuration can be done manually later).
diff --git a/mempalace/mcp_server.py b/mempalace/mcp_server.py
index 06355c46e..6fe8225e1 100644
--- a/mempalace/mcp_server.py
+++ b/mempalace/mcp_server.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 """
 MemPalace MCP Server — read/write palace access for Claude Code
 ================================================================
-Install: claude mcp add mempalace -- python -m mempalace.mcp_server [--palace /path/to/palace]
+Install: claude mcp add mempalace -- mempalace-mcp [--palace /path/to/palace]
 
 Tools (read):
   mempalace_status          — total drawers, wing/room breakdown
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 1f60a2d7e..1935c321f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Repository = "https://github.com/MemPalace/mempalace"
 
 [project.scripts]
 mempalace = "mempalace.cli:main"
+mempalace-mcp = "mempalace.mcp_server:main"
 
 [project.entry-points."mempalace.backends"]
 chroma = "mempalace.backends.chroma:ChromaBackend"
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index c4b420307..1c4dfbda3 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -334,9 +334,9 @@ def test_mcp_command_prints_setup_guidance(monkeypatch, capsys):
 
     captured = capsys.readouterr()
     assert "MemPalace MCP quick setup:" in captured.out
-    assert "claude mcp add mempalace -- python -m mempalace.mcp_server" in captured.out
+    assert "claude mcp add mempalace -- mempalace-mcp" in captured.out
     assert "\nOptional custom palace:\n" in captured.out
-    assert "python -m mempalace.mcp_server --palace /path/to/palace" in captured.out
+    assert "mempalace-mcp --palace /path/to/palace" in captured.out
     assert "[--palace /path/to/palace]" not in captured.out
     assert captured.err == ""
 
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ def test_mcp_command_uses_custom_palace_path_when_provided(monkeypatch, capsys):
     captured = capsys.readouterr()
     expanded = str(Path("~/tmp/my palace").expanduser())
 
-    assert "python -m mempalace.mcp_server --palace" in captured.out
+    assert "mempalace-mcp --palace" in captured.out
     assert expanded in captured.out
     assert "Optional custom palace:" not in captured.out
     assert "[--palace /path/to/palace]" not in captured.out