diff --git a/.changeset/sixty-timers-push.md b/.changeset/sixty-timers-push.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eff07517
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/sixty-timers-push.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"@livekit/agents": patch
+"livekit-agents-examples": minor
+---
+
+Maximize self-import compatibility
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3d80027c..e83b46f4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ serve as a starting point for a completely custom agent application.
 To join a LiveKit room that's already active, you can use the `connect` command:
 
 ```bash
-bash my_agent.ts connect --room <my-room>
+node my_agent.ts connect --room <my-room>
 ```
 
 ### FAQ
diff --git a/agents/src/generator.ts b/agents/src/generator.ts
index 0f5b5e09..18ea05a6 100644
--- a/agents/src/generator.ts
+++ b/agents/src/generator.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,20 @@ export interface Agent {
   prewarm?: (proc: JobProcess) => unknown;
 }
 
+/** Helper to check if an object is an agent before running it.
+ *
+ * @internal
+ */
+export function isAgent(obj: unknown): obj is Agent {
+  return (
+    typeof obj === 'object' &&
+    obj !== null &&
+    'entry' in obj &&
+    typeof (obj as Agent).entry === 'function' &&
+    (('prewarm' in obj && typeof (obj as Agent).prewarm === 'function') || !('prewarm' in obj))
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Helper to define an agent according to the required interface.
  * @example A basic agent with entry and prewarm functions
diff --git a/agents/src/ipc/job_main.ts b/agents/src/ipc/job_main.ts
index 007e22c2..6436898f 100644
--- a/agents/src/ipc/job_main.ts
+++ b/agents/src/ipc/job_main.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { fork } from 'child_process';
 import { EventEmitter, once } from 'events';
 import type { Logger } from 'pino';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
-import type { Agent } from '../generator.js';
+import { type Agent, isAgent } from '../generator.js';
 import type { RunningJobInfo } from '../job.js';
 import { JobContext } from '../job.js';
 import { JobProcess } from '../job.js';
@@ -93,7 +93,14 @@ if (process.send) {
   //   [0] `node'
   //   [1] import.meta.filename
   //   [2] import.meta.filename of function containing entry file
-  const agent: Agent = await import(process.argv[2]).then((agent) => agent.default);
+  const moduleFile = process.argv[2];
+  const agent: Agent = await import(moduleFile).then((module) => {
+    const agent = module.default;
+    if (agent === undefined || !isAgent(agent)) {
+      throw new Error(`Unable to load agent: Missing or invalid default export in ${moduleFile}`);
+    }
+    return agent;
+  });
   if (!agent.prewarm) {
     agent.prewarm = defaultInitializeProcessFunc;
   }
diff --git a/agents/src/worker.ts b/agents/src/worker.ts
index b58018db..13f1fa68 100644
--- a/agents/src/worker.ts
+++ b/agents/src/worker.ts
@@ -178,6 +178,9 @@ export class WorkerOptions {
     logLevel?: string;
   }) {
     this.agent = agent;
+    if (!this.agent) {
+      throw new Error('No Agent file was passed to the worker');
+    }
     this.requestFunc = requestFunc;
     this.loadFunc = loadFunc;
     this.loadThreshold = loadThreshold;
diff --git a/examples/package.json b/examples/package.json
index bfd66acb..02087d0e 100644
--- a/examples/package.json
+++ b/examples/package.json
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "build": "tsc",
-    "lint": "eslint -f unix \"src/**/*.ts\""
+    "lint": "eslint -f unix \"src/**/*.ts\"",
+    "minimal": "node dist/minimal_assistant.js dev"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "typescript": "^5.0.0"
@@ -14,6 +15,5 @@
     "@livekit/agents-plugin-openai": "workspace:*",
     "@livekit/rtc-node": "^0.8.1",
     "zod": "^3.23.8"
-  },
-  "version": null
+  }
 }
diff --git a/examples/src/minimal_assistant.ts b/examples/src/minimal_assistant.ts
index 6b04939d..2efad8c4 100644
--- a/examples/src/minimal_assistant.ts
+++ b/examples/src/minimal_assistant.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 import { type JobContext, WorkerOptions, cli, defineAgent } from '@livekit/agents';
 import { OmniAssistant, defaultConversationConfig } from '@livekit/agents-plugin-openai';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
 import { z } from 'zod';
 
 export default defineAgent({
@@ -36,4 +37,4 @@ export default defineAgent({
   },
 });
 
-cli.runApp(new WorkerOptions({ agent: import.meta.filename }));
+cli.runApp(new WorkerOptions({ agent: fileURLToPath(import.meta.url) }));