diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 66032c6..98ff327 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,16 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt-get update
           sudo apt-get install -y build-essential cmake clang pkg-config libasound2-dev
 
+      - name: Install CUDA toolkit
+        uses: Jimver/cuda-toolkit@v0.2.30
+        with:
+          cuda: "12.5.0"
+
+      - name: Expose CUDA toolkit paths
+        run: |
+          echo "CUDAToolkit_ROOT=$CUDA_PATH" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          sudo ln -sfn "$CUDA_PATH" /usr/local/cuda
+
       - name: Cache cargo
         uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
 
@@ -49,6 +59,16 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt-get update
           sudo apt-get install -y build-essential cmake clang pkg-config libasound2-dev
 
+      - name: Install CUDA toolkit
+        uses: Jimver/cuda-toolkit@v0.2.30
+        with:
+          cuda: "12.5.0"
+
+      - name: Expose CUDA toolkit paths
+        run: |
+          echo "CUDAToolkit_ROOT=$CUDA_PATH" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          sudo ln -sfn "$CUDA_PATH" /usr/local/cuda
+
       - name: Cache cargo
         uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
 
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 3df316e..7eb5038 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ font8x8 = { version = "0.3", optional = true }
 fontdue = { version = "0.9", optional = true }
 
 [features]
-default = ["osd"]
+default = ["cuda", "local-rewrite", "osd"]
 cuda = ["whisper-rs/cuda", "llama-cpp-2?/cuda"]
 local-rewrite = ["dep:llama-cpp-2"]
 osd = [
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a6c65c0..adb97fd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,26 +7,23 @@ Fast speech-to-text dictation for Wayland.
 ## Install
 
 ```sh
-# default install
+# default install: CUDA + local rewrite + OSD
 cargo install whispers
 
-# CUDA
-cargo install whispers --features cuda
-
-# local rewrite support
-cargo install whispers --features local-rewrite
+# no OSD
+cargo install whispers --no-default-features --features cuda,local-rewrite
 
-# CUDA + local rewrite
-cargo install whispers --features cuda,local-rewrite
+# no local rewrite
+cargo install whispers --no-default-features --features cuda,osd
 
-# no OSD
-cargo install whispers --no-default-features
+# CPU-only
+cargo install whispers --no-default-features --features local-rewrite,osd
 ```
 
 If you want the latest GitHub version instead of crates.io:
 
 ```sh
-cargo install --git https://github.com/OneNoted/whispers --features cuda,local-rewrite
+cargo install --git https://github.com/OneNoted/whispers
 ```
 
 ## Requirements
@@ -35,7 +32,7 @@ cargo install --git https://github.com/OneNoted/whispers --features cuda,local-r
 - `wl-copy`
 - access to `/dev/uinput`
 - Rust 1.85+
-- CUDA toolkit if you enable the `cuda` feature
+- CUDA toolkit for the default install; opt out with `--no-default-features` if you need a CPU-only build
 
 If `/dev/uinput` is blocked, add your user to the `input` group and log back in:
 
@@ -111,8 +108,8 @@ whispers completions zsh
 ## Notes
 
 - Local ASR is the default.
-- Local rewrite is installed automatically with `--features local-rewrite`.
-- `whispers` installs the helper rewrite worker for you when that feature is enabled.
+- The default install includes CUDA, local rewrite, and the OSD helper.
+- `whispers` installs the helper rewrite worker for you when `local-rewrite` is enabled.
 - Shell completions are printed to `stdout`.
 
 ## Troubleshooting