diff --git a/tools/homarr-dev/main.go b/tools/homarr-dev/main.go
index 0bd295d8b..2380e41bd 100644
--- a/tools/homarr-dev/main.go
+++ b/tools/homarr-dev/main.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ var (
 	flagEnv     []string
 	flagDetach  bool
 	flagBuildPR int
+	runMain     = tui.RunDev
 )
 
 func main() {
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ Examples:
   homarr doctor                 # check Docker and optional integrations`,
 	Args: cobra.NoArgs,
 	RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-		return cmd.Help()
+		return runMain()
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/homarr-dev/main_test.go b/tools/homarr-dev/main_test.go
index c1806075d..1736d98b3 100644
--- a/tools/homarr-dev/main_test.go
+++ b/tools/homarr-dev/main_test.go
@@ -1,10 +1,22 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 
+func TestRootCommandLaunchesDevelopmentDashboard(t *testing.T) {
+	want := errors.New("dashboard started")
+	previous := runMain
+	t.Cleanup(func() { runMain = previous })
+	runMain = func() error { return want }
+
+	if err := rootCmd.RunE(rootCmd, nil); !errors.Is(err, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("root command error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestRunLaunchRejectsTagWithPR(t *testing.T) {
 	previousPR := flagPR
 	t.Cleanup(func() { flagPR = previousPR })