diff --git a/.cargo/config.toml b/.cargo/config.toml
index 5ecf7fe64..f75263a7b 100644
--- a/.cargo/config.toml
+++ b/.cargo/config.toml
@@ -88,7 +88,12 @@ test-dom-lib-browser = "wa-test dom"
 test-dom-drivertest = "wa-test dom/examples/drivertest"
 test-dom-hacking = "wa-test dom/examples/hacking"
 test-dom-todo = "wa-test dom/examples/todo"
-test-dom-todo-e2e = "ofl serve-then-run --cwd dom/examples/todo/e2e -- npx cypress run"
+test-dom-todo-e2e = """
+ofl serve-then-run 
+    --cargo-before build-dom-todo 
+    --cwd dom/examples/todo/e2e -- 
+npx cypress run
+"""
 
 # standalones
 test-dom = "test --package moxie-dom --package ssr-poc --all-targets"
diff --git a/dom/examples/todo/README.md b/dom/examples/todo/README.md
index d10d46dca..b229ea685 100644
--- a/dom/examples/todo/README.md
+++ b/dom/examples/todo/README.md
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ Commands all assume the working directory is the repository root.
 Build the example and start the project's local HTTP server:
 
 ```
-$ cargo build-dom-todo
+$ cargo build-dom-todo     # for live-watching rebuilds use `cargo dom-flow`
 $ cargo ofl serve
 ```
 
+In VSCode the same can be accomplished by running the `dom crates` and `project server` tasks.
+
 ## Using
 
 To use the example locally, follow the directions for [serving](#serving) the project and
@@ -25,18 +27,18 @@ Unit & integration tests can be run with `cargo test-dom-todo`.
 End-to-end tests are run with [Cypress](https://cypress.io) which requires
 [Node.js](https://nodejs.org) to run.
 
-The tests require a running HTTP server and a current build. The `test-dom-todo-e2e` cargo command
-starts an HTTP server for the test and only requires a build to have been run first:
+If you've already followed the [serving](#serving) instructions the e2e tests can be run from the
+Cypress UI directly. Start the test runner with the `cypress` VSCode task or run the following:
 
 ```
-$ cargo build-dom-todo
-$ cargo test-dom-todo-e2e
+$ cd dom/examples/todo/e2e; npx cypress run
 ```
 
-If you've already followed the [serving](#serving) instructions the e2e tests should be run
-directly:
+#### One-off
+
+The tests require a running HTTP server and a current build. The `test-dom-todo-e2e` cargo command
+runs a build, and starts an HTTP server for the test before running it:
 
 ```
-$ cd dom/examples/todo/e2e
-$ npx cypress run
+$ cargo test-dom-todo-e2e
 ```
diff --git a/ofl/src/server/run.rs b/ofl/src/server/run.rs
index a6510396a..ea3ce4d11 100644
--- a/ofl/src/server/run.rs
+++ b/ofl/src/server/run.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ pub struct RunOpts {
     cmd: String,
     /// working directory for the command
     cwd: PathBuf,
+    /// cargo command to run before launching tests
+    cargo_before: Option<String>,
     /// args to pass the command
     #[options(free)]
     args: Vec<String>,
@@ -37,6 +39,13 @@ impl RunOpts {
             }
         });
 
+        if let Some(cargo_cmd) = self.cargo_before {
+            let status = Command::new("cargo").arg(&cargo_cmd).status()?;
+            if !status.success() {
+                bail!("`cargo {}` failed with status {:?}", cargo_cmd, status);
+            }
+        }
+
         info!("checking server...");
         let url = format!("http://[::1]:{}", self.port);
         while reqwest::blocking::get(&url).is_err() {