diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index fa532814..2fd9ec40 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -58,8 +58,10 @@
     "node": ">=18.0.0"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "build": "npm run build:patterns && tsc",
+    "build": "npm run build:patterns:if-needed && tsc",
     "build:patterns": "tsx scripts/buildEmbeddedPatterns.ts",
+    "build:patterns:if-needed": "node scripts/check-patterns.js || npm run build:patterns",
+    "build:patterns:force": "npm run build:patterns",
     "prepare": "npm run build",
     "test": "npm run test:unit",
     "test:watch": "vitest --config tests/configs/vitest.unit.config.ts",
diff --git a/scripts/check-patterns.js b/scripts/check-patterns.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a20828ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-patterns.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+/**
+ * Check if neural patterns need rebuilding
+ * Only rebuild if:
+ * 1. embeddedPatterns.ts doesn't exist
+ * 2. Pattern library source has changed
+ */
+
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+
+const EMBEDDED_FILE = path.join(__dirname, '../src/neural/embeddedPatterns.ts');
+const PATTERN_LIBRARY = path.join(__dirname, '../src/neural/patternLibrary.ts');
+
+// Check if embedded patterns exist
+if (!fs.existsSync(EMBEDDED_FILE)) {
+  console.log('❌ Embedded patterns not found. Building...');
+  process.exit(1); // Signal need to rebuild
+}
+
+// Check if pattern library is newer than embedded patterns
+const embeddedStats = fs.statSync(EMBEDDED_FILE);
+const libraryStats = fs.statSync(PATTERN_LIBRARY);
+
+if (libraryStats.mtime > embeddedStats.mtime) {
+  console.log('🔄 Pattern library has changed. Rebuilding...');
+  process.exit(1); // Signal need to rebuild
+}
+
+console.log('✅ Embedded patterns are up-to-date. Skipping rebuild.');
+process.exit(0); // No rebuild needed
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/neural/embeddedPatterns.ts b/src/neural/embeddedPatterns.ts
index 522ae8f6..30aea8dd 100644
--- a/src/neural/embeddedPatterns.ts
+++ b/src/neural/embeddedPatterns.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * 🧠 BRAINY EMBEDDED PATTERNS
  * 
  * AUTO-GENERATED - DO NOT EDIT
- * Generated: 2025-08-26T20:39:24.051Z
+ * Generated: 2025-08-27T16:37:10.556Z
  * Patterns: 220
  * Coverage: 94-98% of all queries
  *