diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ba18c64..83bf3d9 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -84,7 +84,15 @@ We recommend running the app locally for development. Follow these steps:
    pnpm install
    ```
 
-3. Start the development server for the backend:
+3. Build the monorepo packages:
+   
+   As the apps rely on internal packages, you need to build them first.
+
+   ```bash
+   pnpm build:packages
+   ```
+
+4. Start the development server for the backend:
 
    ```bash
    cd apps/papra-server
@@ -94,7 +102,7 @@ We recommend running the app locally for development. Follow these steps:
    pnpm dev
    ```
 
-4. Start the frontend:
+5. Start the frontend:
 
    ```bash
    cd apps/papra-client
@@ -102,7 +110,7 @@ We recommend running the app locally for development. Follow these steps:
    pnpm dev
    ```
 
-5. Open your browser and navigate to `http://localhost:3000`.
+6. Open your browser and navigate to `http://localhost:3000`.
 
 ### Testing
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 1875f79..8b1e656 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
     "docker:build:root": "docker build -t papra -f docker/Dockerfile .",
     "docker:build:rootless": "docker build -t papra-rootless -f docker/Dockerfile.rootless .",
     "version": "changeset version && pnpm install --no-frozen-lockfile",
-    "changeset": "changeset"
+    "changeset": "changeset",
+    "build:packages": "pnpm --filter './packages/*' --stream build"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@changesets/changelog-github": "^0.5.1",