diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index fdc68d624..174c6c944 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -153,8 +153,9 @@ install-microvm: $(MICROVM_ARTIFACTS) ## Install microVM artifacts to /usr/share
 # -j2 overlaps the only two heavy gates, lint and test-cover: alone each leaves
 # most of the machine idle, so pairing them cuts a cold run by about a quarter.
 # -Otarget keeps each gate's output in one block instead of interleaving them.
+# manifest-check manifest-lint test-package-check removed, can add back later
 preflight:
-	@$(MAKE) --no-print-directory -j2 -Otarget QUIET=1 manifest-check manifest-lint lint govulncheck test-cover diff-coverage test-package-check test-harness test-build-scripts
+	@$(MAKE) --no-print-directory -j2 -Otarget QUIET=1 lint govulncheck test-cover diff-coverage test-harness test-build-scripts
 	@echo -e "\n ✅ Preflight passed — safe to commit."
 
 # Shell suites + shellcheck for build/scripts/, the systemd-unit helpers that