diff --git a/internal/testrun/driver.go b/internal/testrun/driver.go
index caa1531..9c3c967 100644
--- a/internal/testrun/driver.go
+++ b/internal/testrun/driver.go
@@ -138,11 +138,6 @@ func buildDriver(ctx context.Context, options Options, stdout io.Writer) (driver
 		return d, cleanup, nil
 	}
 
-	// Android uses the JVM sidecar, which requires java.
-	if err := preflightDevice(options.Platform); err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
-	}
-
 	sidecarDirectory := os.TempDir() + "/sanderling-sidecar"
 	jarPath, err := sidecarassets.Extract(sidecarDirectory)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -169,9 +164,8 @@ func buildDriver(ctx context.Context, options Options, stdout io.Writer) (driver
 	sidecarCommand.Stdout = stdout
 	sidecarCommand.Stderr = stdout
 	sidecarCommand.Env = android.EnvWithAndroidPlatformTools(os.Environ(), adbPath)
-	// SIGTERM lets the sidecar's shutdown hook stop the iOS XCTest runner.
-	// SIGKILL skips the hook and orphans an xcodebuild session that later
-	// restarts its runner and hijacks the simulator mid-run.
+	// SIGTERM lets the sidecar run its shutdown hook. SIGKILL skips it and
+	// leaves the adb connection and the device-side instrumentation behind.
 	sidecarCommand.Cancel = func() error {
 		return sidecarCommand.Process.Signal(syscall.SIGTERM)
 	}
@@ -190,9 +184,9 @@ func buildDriver(ctx context.Context, options Options, stdout io.Writer) (driver
 	}
 	driverClient.SetPlatform(options.Platform)
 	driverClient.SetClearStateReinstall(options.Device, options.AndroidAppPath, stdout)
-	// WaitForHealth confirms the gRPC sidecar is up. For iOS, the WDA warmup
-	// (absorbing the XCUITest startup race) runs inside IosDriverBackend.init
-	// in the sidecar - no additional sleep needed here.
+	// WaitForHealth confirms the gRPC sidecar is up. This path is Android
+	// only: iOS has not routed through the sidecar since the native companion
+	// replaced it, and buildDriver returns before reaching here.
 	healthCtx, healthCancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, sidecarStartupTimeout)
 	healthErr := awaitSidecar(healthCtx, address, sidecarStartupTimeout, func(pollCtx context.Context) error {
 		return driverClient.WaitForHealth(pollCtx, 250e6)
diff --git a/internal/testrun/preflight.go b/internal/testrun/preflight.go
index e95caf8..64984ef 100644
--- a/internal/testrun/preflight.go
+++ b/internal/testrun/preflight.go
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ func runPreflight(ctx context.Context, platform string, check preflightFunc) err
 		}
 		return nil
 	case "ios":
-		// Simulator runs drive the native companion and need no JVM. The java
-		// requirement is deferred to the physical-device path in buildDriver.
+		// Neither iOS path needs a JVM: the simulator is driven by the native
+		// companion and a physical device runner-only over usbmux.
 		if err := check("xcrun"); err != nil {
 			return preflightFailure("ios", err)
 		}
@@ -62,25 +62,6 @@ func runPreflight(ctx context.Context, platform string, check preflightFunc) err
 	}
 }
 
-// preflightDevice runs the extra host checks the JVM sidecar path needs once we
-// know a run targets a physical iOS device. Android already requires java in
-// the top-level Preflight, so this only matters for ios.
-func preflightDevice(platform string) error {
-	return runPreflightDevice(platform, preflightCheck)
-}
-
-func runPreflightDevice(platform string, check preflightFunc) error {
-	if platform != "ios" {
-		return nil
-	}
-	if err := check("java"); err != nil {
-		// The doctor splits simulator and device checks: java lives under the
-		// ios-device platform, so the hint must point there.
-		return preflightFailure("ios-device", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func preflightFailure(platform string, cause error) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf(
 		"preflight: %w\nrun `sanderling doctor --platform=%s` for full host-readiness checks",
diff --git a/internal/testrun/preflight_test.go b/internal/testrun/preflight_test.go
index d2f32f1..8ca2d1d 100644
--- a/internal/testrun/preflight_test.go
+++ b/internal/testrun/preflight_test.go
@@ -122,27 +122,17 @@ func TestPreflight_AllOK(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestPreflightDevice_NonIosIsNoop(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, platform := range []string{"web", "android"} {
-		if err := preflightDevice(platform); err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("%s: preflightDevice should be a no-op, got %v", platform, err)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func TestPreflightDevice_JavaFailurePointsAtIosDeviceDoctor(t *testing.T) {
+// Neither iOS path runs a JVM, so preflight must not turn a host away for
+// want of java on the platform that never asks for it.
+func TestPreflight_IosDoesNotRequireJava(t *testing.T) {
 	check := func(name string) error {
 		if name == "java" {
 			return errors.New("java not found")
 		}
 		return nil
 	}
-	err := runPreflightDevice("ios", check)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "java") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected java error, got %v", err)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "sanderling doctor --platform=ios-device") {
-		t.Errorf("hint must name the ios-device doctor platform: %v", err)
+	if err := runPreflight(context.Background(), "ios", check); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ios preflight failed on a host with no java: %v", err)
 	}
 }