diff --git a/apps/remix/app/routes/api+/certificate-status.ts b/apps/remix/app/routes/api+/certificate-status.ts
index eb8ae6cfd..5e4ea8be4 100644
--- a/apps/remix/app/routes/api+/certificate-status.ts
+++ b/apps/remix/app/routes/api+/certificate-status.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { getCertificateStatus } from '@documenso/lib/server-only/cert/cert-status';
 
-export const loader = () => {
+export const loader = async () => {
   try {
-    const certStatus = getCertificateStatus();
+    const certStatus = await getCertificateStatus();
 
     return Response.json({
       isAvailable: certStatus.isAvailable,
diff --git a/apps/remix/app/routes/api+/health.ts b/apps/remix/app/routes/api+/health.ts
index c43ac1478..1cf8ccba9 100644
--- a/apps/remix/app/routes/api+/health.ts
+++ b/apps/remix/app/routes/api+/health.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export const loader = async () => {
   }
 
   try {
-    const certStatus = getCertificateStatus();
+    const certStatus = await getCertificateStatus();
 
     if (certStatus.isAvailable) {
       checks.certificate = { status: 'ok' };
diff --git a/packages/lib/constants/app.ts b/packages/lib/constants/app.ts
index 9740fae22..17ded9d66 100644
--- a/packages/lib/constants/app.ts
+++ b/packages/lib/constants/app.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ export const NEXT_PRIVATE_USE_PLAYWRIGHT_PDF = () => env('NEXT_PRIVATE_USE_PLAYW
 
 export const NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TIMESTAMP_AUTHORITY = () => env('NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TIMESTAMP_AUTHORITY');
 
+export const NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TRANSPORT = () => env('NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TRANSPORT') || 'local';
+
 /**
  * Whether this Documenso instance is running in CSC (Cloud Signature Consortium) mode.
  *
diff --git a/packages/lib/server-only/cert/cert-status.ts b/packages/lib/server-only/cert/cert-status.ts
index 737989eea..a3c0fd222 100644
--- a/packages/lib/server-only/cert/cert-status.ts
+++ b/packages/lib/server-only/cert/cert-status.ts
@@ -1,26 +1,36 @@
-import * as fs from 'node:fs';
+import { X509Certificate } from 'node:crypto';
 
-import { env } from '@documenso/lib/utils/env';
+import { createLocalSigner } from '@documenso/signing/transports/local';
 
-export const getCertificateStatus = () => {
-  if (env('NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TRANSPORT') !== 'local') {
+import { NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TRANSPORT } from '../../constants/app';
+
+/**
+ * Whether the local P12 opens with the configured passphrase and is in date.
+ * Skips AIA so this stays offline. gcloud-hsm and csc always report available.
+ */
+export const getCertificateStatus = async () => {
+  const transport = NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TRANSPORT();
+
+  // Cannot inspect a remote HSM or CSC provider from this process.
+  if (transport === 'gcloud-hsm' || transport === 'csc') {
     return { isAvailable: true };
   }
 
-  if (env('NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_LOCAL_FILE_CONTENTS')) {
-    return { isAvailable: true };
+  // Anything else (typo, leftover `http`) would throw at seal time.
+  if (transport !== 'local') {
+    return { isAvailable: false };
   }
 
-  const defaultPath = env('NODE_ENV') === 'production' ? '/opt/documenso/cert.p12' : './example/cert.p12';
-
-  const filePath = env('NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_LOCAL_FILE_PATH') || defaultPath;
-
   try {
-    fs.accessSync(filePath, fs.constants.F_OK | fs.constants.R_OK);
+    const signer = await createLocalSigner({ buildChain: false });
 
-    const stats = fs.statSync(filePath);
+    const certificate = new X509Certificate(Buffer.from(signer.certificate));
 
-    return { isAvailable: stats.size > 0 };
+    const now = new Date();
+
+    const isWithinValidityPeriod = new Date(certificate.validFrom) <= now && now <= new Date(certificate.validTo);
+
+    return { isAvailable: isWithinValidityPeriod };
   } catch {
     return { isAvailable: false };
   }
diff --git a/packages/signing/index.ts b/packages/signing/index.ts
index 45af28441..d5f6c2f9b 100644
--- a/packages/signing/index.ts
+++ b/packages/signing/index.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import {
+  NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TRANSPORT,
   NEXT_PRIVATE_USE_LEGACY_SIGNING_SUBFILTER,
   NEXT_PUBLIC_SIGNING_CONTACT_INFO,
   NEXT_PUBLIC_WEBAPP_URL,
 } from '@documenso/lib/constants/app';
-import { env } from '@documenso/lib/utils/env';
 import type { PDF, Signer } from '@libpdf/core';
 import { match } from 'ts-pattern';
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const getSigner = async () => {
     return signer;
   }
 
-  const transport = env('NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TRANSPORT') || 'local';
+  const transport = NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_TRANSPORT();
 
   // eslint-disable-next-line require-atomic-updates
   signer = await match(transport)
diff --git a/packages/signing/transports/local.ts b/packages/signing/transports/local.ts
index a6e1698a2..1635e613b 100644
--- a/packages/signing/transports/local.ts
+++ b/packages/signing/transports/local.ts
@@ -22,10 +22,20 @@ const loadP12 = (): Uint8Array => {
   throw new Error('No certificate found for local signing');
 };
 
-export const createLocalSigner = async () => {
+export type CreateLocalSignerOptions = {
+  /**
+   * Fetch missing intermediates via AIA. Leave on for sealing.
+   * Turn off for health checks so they do not hit the network.
+   *
+   * @default true
+   */
+  buildChain?: boolean;
+};
+
+export const createLocalSigner = async ({ buildChain = true }: CreateLocalSignerOptions = {}) => {
   const p12 = loadP12();
 
   return await P12Signer.create(p12, env('NEXT_PRIVATE_SIGNING_PASSPHRASE') || '', {
-    buildChain: true,
+    buildChain,
   });
 };