diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7b6045b2..2e9497d7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ All supported CLI argument inputs are [listed below](#arguments) with accompanyi
 | Security | `preserve-plan`     | Preserve plan file "tfplan" in the given working directory after workflow execution.</br>Default: `false`                                 |
 | Security | `upload-plan`       | Upload plan file as GitHub workflow artifact.</br>Default: `true`                                                                         |
 | Security | `retention-days`    | Duration after which plan file artifact will expire in days.</br>Example: `90`                                                            |
+| Artifact | `build-artifacts`   | Paths to files/directories to upload with plan and restore during apply.<sup>7</sup></br>Example: `build/bundle.zip`                      |
 | Security | `token`             | Specify a GitHub token.</br>Default: `${{ github.token }}`                                                                                |
 | UI       | `expand-diff`       | Expand the collapsible diff section.</br>Default: `false`                                                                                 |
 | UI       | `expand-summary`    | Expand the collapsible summary section.</br>Default: `false`                                                                              |
@@ -199,7 +200,14 @@ All supported CLI argument inputs are [listed below](#arguments) with accompanyi
 1. The `on-diff` option is true when the exit code of the last TF command is non-zero (ensure `terraform_wrapper`/`tofu_wrapper` is set to `false`).</br></br>
 1. The default behavior of `comment-method` is to update the existing PR comment with the latest plan/apply output, making it easy to track changes over time through the comment's revision history.</br></br>
   [![PR comment revision history comparing plan and apply outputs.](/.github/assets/revisions.png)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/op5dev/tf-via-pr/refs/heads/main/.github/assets/revisions.png "View full-size image.")</br></br>
-1. It can be desirable to hide certain arguments from the last run command input to prevent exposure in the PR comment (e.g., sensitive `arg-var` values). Conversely, it can be desirable to show other arguments even if they are not in last run command input (e.g., `arg-workspace` or `arg-backend-config` selection).
+1. It can be desirable to hide certain arguments from the last run command input to prevent exposure in the PR comment (e.g., sensitive `arg-var` values). Conversely, it can be desirable to show other arguments even if they are not in last run command input (e.g., `arg-workspace` or `arg-backend-config` selection).</br></br>
+1. The `build-artifacts` input accepts newline or comma-separated paths to files or directories that should be uploaded alongside the plan file and restored during apply. This is useful when using `data.archive_file` or other resources that generate interim build files needed during apply (e.g., zip archives for Lambda deployments).</br>
+  Example usage:
+    ```yaml
+    build-artifacts: |
+      build/bundle.zip
+      dist/
+    ```
 
 </br>
 
@@ -322,7 +330,6 @@ View [all notable changes](https://github.com/op5dev/tf-via-pr/releases "Release
 
 - Handling of inputs which contain space(s) (e.g., `working-directory: path to/directory`).
 - Handling of comma-separated inputs which contain comma(s) (e.g., `arg-var: token=1,2,3`); workaround with `TF_CLI_ARGS` [environment variable](https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/cli/config/environment-variables#tf_cli_args-and-tf_cli_args_name).
-- Handling of interim build artifact(s) between `plan` and `apply` commands (e.g., zip archive); workaround with `arg-auto-approve: true` so that `apply` rebuilds artifact(s) for provisioning ([join discussion](https://github.com/OP5dev/TF-via-PR/issues/517)).
 
 </br>
 
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 03fbfab4..d10a8c5e 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -204,8 +204,8 @@ runs:
         if [[ -z "$artifact_id" ]]; then echo "Unable to locate plan file: ${{ steps.identifier.outputs.name }}." && exit 1; fi
         gh api /repos/${{ github.repository }}/actions/artifacts/${artifact_id}/zip --header "$GH_API" --method GET > "${{ steps.identifier.outputs.name }}.zip"
 
-        # Unzip the plan file to the working directory, then clean up the zip file.
-        unzip "${{ steps.identifier.outputs.name }}.zip" -d "$INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR"
+        # Unzip the plan file to the working directory (or current directory if not specified).
+        unzip "${{ steps.identifier.outputs.name }}.zip" -d "${INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR:-.}"
         rm --force "${{ steps.identifier.outputs.name }}.zip"
 
     - if: ${{ inputs.plan-encrypt != '' && steps.download.outcome == 'success' }}
@@ -220,6 +220,64 @@ runs:
         openssl enc -aes-256-ctr -pbkdf2 -salt -in "$path.encrypted" -out "$path.decrypted" -pass file:"$temp_file" -d
         mv --force --verbose "$path.decrypted" "$path"
 
+    - if: ${{ steps.download.outcome == 'success' }}
+      id: restore-build-artifacts
+      env:
+        INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR: ${{ inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory }}
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        # Restore build artifacts from staging directory.
+        workdir="${INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR:-.}"
+        staging_dir="$workdir/.tfviapr-artifacts"
+        manifest_file="$staging_dir/manifest.json"
+
+        # Skip if no build artifacts were staged.
+        if [[ ! -f "$manifest_file" ]]; then
+          echo "No build artifacts manifest found, skipping restore."
+          exit 0
+        fi
+
+        echo "Restoring build artifacts from manifest: $manifest_file"
+
+        # Parse manifest and restore each artifact.
+        artifacts=$(jq -c '.artifacts[]' "$manifest_file" 2>/dev/null || echo "")
+        if [[ -z "$artifacts" ]]; then
+          echo "No artifacts in manifest."
+          rm -rf "$staging_dir"
+          exit 0
+        fi
+
+        while IFS= read -r artifact; do
+          rel_path=$(echo "$artifact" | jq -r '.path')
+          staging_name=$(echo "$artifact" | jq -r '.staging')
+          artifact_type=$(echo "$artifact" | jq -r '.type')
+
+          # Determine destination path.
+          if [[ "$rel_path" = /* ]]; then
+            # Absolute path.
+            dest_path="$rel_path"
+          else
+            # Relative path - restore relative to working directory.
+            dest_path="$workdir/$rel_path"
+          fi
+
+          # Create parent directory if needed.
+          dest_dir=$(dirname "$dest_path")
+          mkdir -p "$dest_dir"
+
+          # Restore file or directory.
+          if [[ "$artifact_type" == "directory" ]]; then
+            cp -r "$staging_dir/$staging_name" "$dest_path"
+          else
+            cp "$staging_dir/$staging_name" "$dest_path"
+          fi
+          echo "Restored build artifact: $staging_dir/$staging_name -> $dest_path"
+        done <<< "$artifacts"
+
+        # Clean up staging directory.
+        rm -rf "$staging_dir"
+        echo "Build artifacts restored successfully."
+
     - if: ${{ steps.plan.outcome == 'success' || steps.download.outcome == 'success' }}
       env:
         INPUTS_TOOL: ${{ inputs.tool }}
@@ -254,12 +312,72 @@ runs:
           rm --force "$path"
         fi
 
+    - if: ${{ inputs.build-artifacts != '' && steps.plan.outcome == 'success' }}
+      id: stage-build-artifacts
+      env:
+        INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR: ${{ inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory }}
+        INPUTS_BUILD_ARTIFACTS: ${{ inputs.build-artifacts }}
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        # Stage build artifacts for upload.
+        # Create staging directory and manifest file.
+        workdir="${INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR:-.}"
+        staging_dir="$workdir/.tfviapr-artifacts"
+        manifest_file="$staging_dir/manifest.json"
+        mkdir -p "$staging_dir"
+        echo '{"artifacts":[' > "$manifest_file"
+
+        # Parse build-artifacts input (newline or comma-separated).
+        artifacts=$(echo "$INPUTS_BUILD_ARTIFACTS" | tr ',' '\n' | sed 's/^[[:space:]]*//;s/[[:space:]]*$//' | grep -v '^$')
+        first=true
+
+        while IFS= read -r artifact_path; do
+          # Resolve path relative to working directory.
+          if [[ "$artifact_path" = /* ]]; then
+            # Absolute path - use as-is.
+            src_path="$artifact_path"
+            rel_path="$artifact_path"
+          else
+            # Relative path - resolve from working directory.
+            src_path="$workdir/$artifact_path"
+            rel_path="$artifact_path"
+          fi
+
+          if [[ ! -e "$src_path" ]]; then
+            echo "Warning: Build artifact not found: $src_path"
+            continue
+          fi
+
+          # Generate a unique staging name to avoid conflicts.
+          staging_name=$(echo "$rel_path" | md5sum | cut -d' ' -f1)
+
+          # Copy file or directory to staging area.
+          if [[ -d "$src_path" ]]; then
+            cp -r "$src_path" "$staging_dir/$staging_name"
+            artifact_type="directory"
+          else
+            cp "$src_path" "$staging_dir/$staging_name"
+            artifact_type="file"
+          fi
+
+          # Add to manifest.
+          if [[ "$first" != "true" ]]; then echo ',' >> "$manifest_file"; fi
+          first=false
+          echo "{\"path\":\"$rel_path\",\"staging\":\"$staging_name\",\"type\":\"$artifact_type\"}" >> "$manifest_file"
+          echo "Staged build artifact: $src_path -> $staging_dir/$staging_name"
+        done <<< "$artifacts"
+
+        echo ']}' >> "$manifest_file"
+        echo "Build artifacts manifest created: $manifest_file"
+
     - if: ${{ inputs.command == 'plan' && inputs.upload-plan == 'true' && (github.server_url == 'https://github.com' || contains(github.server_url, '.ghe.com')) }}
       id: upload
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@b7c566a772e6b6bfb58ed0dc250532a479d7789f # v6.0.0
       with:
         name: ${{ steps.identifier.outputs.name }}
-        path: ${{ format('{0}{1}tfplan{2}', inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory, (inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory) && '/' || '', inputs.plan-encrypt != '' && '.encrypted' || '') }}
+        path: |
+          ${{ format('{0}{1}tfplan{2}', inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory, (inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory) && '/' || '', inputs.plan-encrypt != '' && '.encrypted' || '') }}
+          ${{ inputs.build-artifacts != '' && format('{0}{1}.tfviapr-artifacts', inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory, (inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory) && '/' || '') || '' }}
         retention-days: ${{ inputs.retention-days }}
         overwrite: true
 
@@ -268,9 +386,22 @@ runs:
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@c24449f33cd45d4826c6702db7e49f7cdb9b551d # v3.2.1-node20
       with:
         name: ${{ steps.identifier.outputs.name }}
-        path: ${{ format('{0}{1}tfplan{2}', inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory, (inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory) && '/' || '', inputs.plan-encrypt != '' && '.encrypted' || '') }}
+        path: |
+          ${{ format('{0}{1}tfplan{2}', inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory, (inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory) && '/' || '', inputs.plan-encrypt != '' && '.encrypted' || '') }}
+          ${{ inputs.build-artifacts != '' && format('{0}{1}.tfviapr-artifacts', inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory, (inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory) && '/' || '') || '' }}
         retention-days: ${{ inputs.retention-days }}
 
+    - if: ${{ inputs.build-artifacts != '' && (steps.upload.outcome == 'success' || steps.upload-v3.outcome == 'success') }}
+      env:
+        INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR: ${{ inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory }}
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        # Clean up build artifacts staging directory after upload.
+        workdir="${INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR:-.}"
+        staging_dir="$workdir/.tfviapr-artifacts"
+        rm -rf "$staging_dir"
+        echo "Cleaned up build artifacts staging directory."
+
     - if: ${{ inputs.plan-parity == 'true' && (steps.download.outcome == 'success' || inputs.plan-file != '') }}
       env:
         INPUTS_ARG_CHDIR: ${{ inputs.arg-chdir || inputs.working-directory }}
@@ -636,6 +767,10 @@ inputs:
     default: "true"
     description: "Upload plan file as GitHub workflow artifact (e.g., `true`)."
     required: false
+  build-artifacts:
+    default: ""
+    description: "Newline or comma-separated paths to files/directories to upload with plan and restore during apply (e.g., `build/bundle.zip`)."
+    required: false
   validate:
     default: "false"
     description: "Check validation of TF code (e.g., `false`)."
diff --git a/tests/fail_build_artifact_missing/.gitignore b/tests/fail_build_artifact_missing/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d647a4a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fail_build_artifact_missing/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Terraform
+.terraform/
+.terraform.lock.hcl
+*.tfplan
+tfplan
+
+# Build artifacts (generated during plan)
+build/
diff --git a/tests/fail_build_artifact_missing/main.tf b/tests/fail_build_artifact_missing/main.tf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9037676d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fail_build_artifact_missing/main.tf
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+# Test case demonstrating build artifact issue (#517)
+# This replicates the scenario where data.archive_file generates a zip
+# during plan, but the zip is missing during apply because only the
+# tfplan file is uploaded/downloaded between workflow runs.
+#
+# To test this scenario (simulating separate plan/apply jobs):
+# 1. Run: terraform init
+# 2. Run: terraform plan -out=tfplan
+#    (This creates build/bundle.zip via data.archive_file)
+# 3. Simulate artifact transfer: rm -rf build/
+# 4. Run: terraform apply tfplan
+#    (This FAILS because bundle.zip no longer exists)
+#
+# The new `build-artifacts` input solves this by allowing users to
+# specify files/directories to upload alongside the tfplan file.
+#
+# Example workflow usage with build-artifacts:
+#   - uses: op5dev/tf-via-pr@v13
+#     with:
+#       command: plan
+#       build-artifacts: build/bundle.zip
+#       # Or for multiple files/directories:
+#       # build-artifacts: |
+#       #   build/bundle.zip
+#       #   dist/
+
+terraform {
+  required_providers {
+    archive = {
+      source  = "hashicorp/archive"
+      version = "~> 2.0"
+    }
+    null = {
+      source  = "hashicorp/null"
+      version = "~> 3.0"
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+# Archive inline content - creates zip during plan phase
+data "archive_file" "bundle" {
+  type        = "zip"
+  output_path = "${path.module}/build/bundle.zip"
+
+  source {
+    content  = "exports.handler = async (event) => { return { statusCode: 200 }; };"
+    filename = "index.js"
+  }
+
+  source {
+    content  = jsonencode({ name = "lambda-function", version = "1.0.0" })
+    filename = "package.json"
+  }
+}
+
+# Simulates deploying the archive (e.g., to S3, Lambda, etc.)
+# This will fail during apply if the zip file doesn't exist
+resource "null_resource" "deploy" {
+  triggers = {
+    archive_hash = data.archive_file.bundle.output_base64sha256
+  }
+
+  provisioner "local-exec" {
+    command = <<-EOT
+      if [ -f "${data.archive_file.bundle.output_path}" ]; then
+        echo "SUCCESS: Archive found at ${data.archive_file.bundle.output_path}"
+        echo "Archive size: $(wc -c < "${data.archive_file.bundle.output_path}") bytes"
+        echo "Archive hash: ${data.archive_file.bundle.output_base64sha256}"
+      else
+        echo "ERROR: Archive missing at ${data.archive_file.bundle.output_path}"
+        echo ""
+        echo "This failure occurs when:"
+        echo "  1. 'terraform plan' runs in one workflow job (creates the zip)"
+        echo "  2. Only the tfplan file is transferred to another job"
+        echo "  3. 'terraform apply tfplan' runs but the zip is missing"
+        echo ""
+        echo "Solution: Use 'build-artifacts' input to transfer the zip file"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+    EOT
+  }
+}
+
+output "archive_path" {
+  value       = data.archive_file.bundle.output_path
+  description = "Path to the generated archive file"
+}
+
+output "archive_size" {
+  value       = data.archive_file.bundle.output_size
+  description = "Size of the archive in bytes"
+}
diff --git a/tests/tf.sh b/tests/tf.sh
index 1f8563bd..f531f2ae 100755
--- a/tests/tf.sh
+++ b/tests/tf.sh
@@ -4,3 +4,15 @@ terraform -chdir=tests/pass_one init -no-color 2> >(tee pass_one.txt) > >(tee pa
 terraform -chdir=tests/fail_format_diff fmt -check=true -diff=true -no-color 2> >(tee fail_format_diff.txt) > >(tee fail_format_diff.txt)
 terraform -chdir=tests/fail_data_source_error init -no-color 2> >(tee fail_data_source_error.txt) > >(tee fail_data_source_error.txt)
 terraform -chdir=tests/fail_invalid_resource_type init -no-color 2> >(tee fail_invalid_resource_type.txt) > >(tee fail_invalid_resource_type.txt)
+
+# Test case for build artifact issue (#517)
+# This demonstrates the scenario where interim build artifacts are missing during apply
+echo "=== Testing build artifact scenario (issue #517) ==="
+terraform -chdir=tests/fail_build_artifact_missing init -no-color
+terraform -chdir=tests/fail_build_artifact_missing plan -out=tfplan -no-color
+# Simulate artifact transfer (only tfplan, not the build directory)
+rm -rf tests/fail_build_artifact_missing/build/
+# This apply should fail because bundle.zip is missing
+terraform -chdir=tests/fail_build_artifact_missing apply tfplan -no-color 2> >(tee fail_build_artifact_missing.txt) > >(tee fail_build_artifact_missing.txt) || echo "Expected failure: build artifact missing"
+# Cleanup
+rm -f tests/fail_build_artifact_missing/tfplan