diff --git a/recompiler/tests/test_optional_netplay_auth.py b/recompiler/tests/test_optional_netplay_auth.py
index 1a3b7af7..b1073c88 100644
--- a/recompiler/tests/test_optional_netplay_auth.py
+++ b/recompiler/tests/test_optional_netplay_auth.py
@@ -50,7 +50,20 @@ def main():
             else:
                 assert "rnet_account_" not in p.stdout, "offline launcher retained account linkage"
                 assert "RNET_ACCOUNT_" not in p.stdout, "offline launcher retained account state dependency"
-        print("PASS: offline launcher needs no auth headers/symbols; enabled account path retained")
+        # Compile the REAL offline lobby TU too: its early chat-report include
+        # used to leak an independent optional dependency before the #else.
+        lobby = args.source.parent / "psx_lobby_client.c"
+        includes = args.source.parent.parent / "include"
+        if is_msvc:
+            cmd = [args.cxx, "/nologo", "/TC", "/c", "/I"+str(includes),
+                   str(lobby), "/Fo"+str(root / "lobby.obj")]
+        else:
+            cmd = [args.cxx, "-x", "c", "-c", "-I", str(includes), str(lobby),
+                   "-o", str(root / "lobby.obj")]
+        p = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, encoding="utf-8",
+                           errors="replace", timeout=30)
+        assert p.returncode == 0, p.stderr
+        print("PASS: offline launcher/auth guards and real offline lobby compilation; enabled account path retained")
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()
diff --git a/runtime/src/psx_lobby_client.c b/runtime/src/psx_lobby_client.c
index 4dc5d738..4d656440 100644
--- a/runtime/src/psx_lobby_client.c
+++ b/runtime/src/psx_lobby_client.c
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #include "psx_lobby_client.h"
-#include "recomp_net/chat_report.h"
 
 #include <ctype.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -173,6 +172,7 @@ void psx_lobby_clear_launch_pending(void) {}
 #include "recomp_net/lan_beacon.h"
 #include "recomp_net/rtt_probe.h"
 #include "recomp_net/chat_filter.h"
+#include "recomp_net/chat_report.h"
 #include "recomp_net/auth.h"   /* optional Discord session for `hello` */
 #include "host_time.h"