diff --git a/docs/release-notes/.FSharp.Compiler.Service/11.0.100.md b/docs/release-notes/.FSharp.Compiler.Service/11.0.100.md
index 194de518bcb..a06a05bd58e 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes/.FSharp.Compiler.Service/11.0.100.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes/.FSharp.Compiler.Service/11.0.100.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ### Fixed
 
+* Restore packaging of an F# design-time type provider that is activated via a `ProjectReference` carrying `IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider="true"`. The provider assembly is again included under `fsharp41` when packing (including `pack --no-build`); `PackageFSharpDesignTimeTools` now resolves the provider via `GetTargetPath`, which works in `dotnet pack`'s `BuildProjectReferences=false` content build without forcing an early `ResolveReferences`. ([Issue #18924](https://github.com/dotnet/fsharp/issues/18924), [PR #19979](https://github.com/dotnet/fsharp/pull/19979))
 * Tooltip "Full name" now shows demangled companion module names (e.g. `MyType.func` instead of `MyTypeModule.func`). ([Issue #17335](https://github.com/dotnet/fsharp/issues/17335), [PR #19867](https://github.com/dotnet/fsharp/pull/19867))
 * Fix internal error (FS0193) when calling an indexed property setter with a named argument that matches an indexer parameter. ([Issue #16034](https://github.com/dotnet/fsharp/issues/16034), [PR #19851](https://github.com/dotnet/fsharp/pull/19851))
 * Fix missing FS1182 ("unused binding") warning for unused `let` function bindings inside class types. ([Issue #13849](https://github.com/dotnet/fsharp/issues/13849), [PR #19805](https://github.com/dotnet/fsharp/pull/19805))
diff --git a/src/FSharp.Build/Microsoft.FSharp.NetSdk.targets b/src/FSharp.Build/Microsoft.FSharp.NetSdk.targets
index 3761a84fad5..c28119060cd 100644
--- a/src/FSharp.Build/Microsoft.FSharp.NetSdk.targets
+++ b/src/FSharp.Build/Microsoft.FSharp.NetSdk.targets
@@ -49,23 +49,11 @@ WARNING:  DO NOT MODIFY this file unless you are knowledgeable about MSBuild and
     <PackProjectInputFile>$(MSBuildProjectFullPath)</PackProjectInputFile>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
-  <!-- Gate inclusion of PackageFSharpDesignTimeTools target when design-time provider is present -->
-  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider)' == 'true' ">
+  <!-- Register unconditionally at eval time (NuGet fixes the TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage schedule before any target runs); the target's own Condition gates execution. -->
+  <PropertyGroup>
     <TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage>$(TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage);PackageFSharpDesignTimeTools</TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
-  <!-- Check for design-time provider references and add target if needed -->
-  <!-- This target attempts to update TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage based on reference metadata -->
-  <Target Name="_CheckForDesignTimeProviderReferences" BeforeTargets="GenerateNuspec" Condition=" '$(IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider)' != 'true' ">
-    <ItemGroup>
-      <_FSharpDesignTimeProviderProject Include="@(ProjectReference)" Condition="'%(ProjectReference.IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider)' == 'true'" />
-      <_FSharpDesignTimeProviderPackage Include="@(PackageReference)" Condition="'%(PackageReference.IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider)' == 'true'" />
-    </ItemGroup>
-    <PropertyGroup Condition=" '@(_FSharpDesignTimeProviderProject)' != '' or '@(_FSharpDesignTimeProviderPackage)' != '' ">
-      <TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage>$(TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage);PackageFSharpDesignTimeTools</TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage>
-    </PropertyGroup>
-  </Target>
-
   <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(DisableImplicitLibraryPacksFolder)' != 'true' ">
     <RestoreAdditionalProjectSources Condition="Exists('$(_FSharpCoreLibraryPacksFolder)')">$(RestoreAdditionalProjectSources);$(_FSharpCoreLibraryPacksFolder)</RestoreAdditionalProjectSources>
   </PropertyGroup>
@@ -78,7 +66,9 @@ WARNING:  DO NOT MODIFY this file unless you are knowledgeable about MSBuild and
     </ItemGroup>
   </Target>
 
-  <Target Name="PackageFSharpDesignTimeTools" AfterTargets="ResolveReferences">
+  <!-- Pack-only (run via TargetsForTfmSpecificContentInPackage, no AfterTargets); execution-time Condition skips non-providers. -->
+  <Target Name="PackageFSharpDesignTimeTools"
+          Condition="'$(IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider)' == 'true' or '@(ProjectReference->AnyHaveMetadataValue('IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider', 'true'))' == 'true'">
     <PropertyGroup>
       <FSharpDesignTimeProtocol Condition = " '$(FSharpDesignTimeProtocol)' == '' ">fsharp41</FSharpDesignTimeProtocol>
       <FSharpToolsDirectory Condition = " '$(FSharpToolsDirectory)' == '' ">tools</FSharpToolsDirectory>
@@ -87,22 +77,24 @@ WARNING:  DO NOT MODIFY this file unless you are knowledgeable about MSBuild and
     <Error Text="'$(FSharpToolsDirectory)' is an invalid value for 'FSharpToolsDirectory' valid values are 'typeproviders' and 'tools'." Condition="'$(FSharpToolsDirectory)' != 'typeproviders' and '$(FSharpToolsDirectory)' != 'tools'" />
     <Error Text="The 'FSharpDesignTimeProtocol'  property can be only 'fsharp41'" Condition="'$(FSharpDesignTimeProtocol)' != 'fsharp41'" />
 
+    <!-- pack uses BuildProjectReferences=false (=> _ResolvedProjectReferencePaths empty); GetTargetPath reads each provider's already-built path without building it (no NETSDK1085) or forcing an early ResolveReferences. -->
+    <MSBuild Projects="@(ProjectReference->WithMetadataValue('IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider', 'true'))"
+             Targets="GetTargetPath"
+             RemoveProperties="TargetFramework">
+      <Output TaskParameter="TargetOutputs" ItemName="_FSharpDesignTimeProviderPath" />
+    </MSBuild>
+
     <ItemGroup>
-      <_ResolvedOutputFiles
-          Include="%(_ResolvedProjectReferencePaths.RootDir)%(_ResolvedProjectReferencePaths.Directory)/**/*"
-          Exclude="%(_ResolvedProjectReferencePaths.RootDir)%(_ResolvedProjectReferencePaths.Directory)/**/FSharp.Core.dll;%(_ResolvedProjectReferencePaths.RootDir)%(_ResolvedProjectReferencePaths.Directory)/**/System.ValueTuple.dll"
-          Condition="'%(_ResolvedProjectReferencePaths.IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider)' == 'true'">
-        <NearestTargetFramework>%(_ResolvedProjectReferencePaths.NearestTargetFramework)</NearestTargetFramework>
-      </_ResolvedOutputFiles>
-
-      <_ResolvedOutputFiles
-          Include="@(BuiltProjectOutputGroupKeyOutput)"
-          Condition=" '$(IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider)' == 'true' and '%(BuiltProjectOutputGroupKeyOutput->Filename)%(BuiltProjectOutputGroupKeyOutput->Extension)' != 'FSharp.Core.dll' and '%(BuiltProjectOutputGroupKeyOutput->Filename)%(BuiltProjectOutputGroupKeyOutput->Extension)' != 'System.ValueTuple.dll' ">
-        <NearestTargetFramework>$(TargetFramework)</NearestTargetFramework>
-      </_ResolvedOutputFiles>
-
-      <TfmSpecificPackageFile Include="@(_ResolvedOutputFiles)">
-         <PackagePath>$(FSharpToolsDirectory)/$(FSharpDesignTimeProtocol)/%(_ResolvedOutputFiles.NearestTargetFramework)/%(_ResolvedOutputFiles.FileName)%(_ResolvedOutputFiles.Extension)</PackagePath>
+      <!-- ProjectReference case: bounded top-level *.dll beside the provider; guard + no rooted/recursive glob so an empty path can never widen to a cwd/drive-root scan. -->
+      <_ResolvedOutputFiles Condition="'@(_FSharpDesignTimeProviderPath)' != ''" Include="%(_FSharpDesignTimeProviderPath.RootDir)%(_FSharpDesignTimeProviderPath.Directory)*.dll" />
+
+      <!-- Direct case (<IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider>true</...>): this project's own primary output. -->
+      <_ResolvedOutputFiles Condition="'$(IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider)' == 'true'" Include="@(BuiltProjectOutputGroupKeyOutput)" />
+
+      <!-- One exclusion point for both cases: consumers always carry their own FSharp.Core/System.ValueTuple. TFM is always the packing project's, so inline $(TargetFramework). -->
+      <TfmSpecificPackageFile Include="@(_ResolvedOutputFiles)"
+                              Condition="'%(_ResolvedOutputFiles.Filename)' != 'FSharp.Core' and '%(_ResolvedOutputFiles.Filename)' != 'System.ValueTuple'">
+        <PackagePath>$(FSharpToolsDirectory)/$(FSharpDesignTimeProtocol)/$(TargetFramework)/%(_ResolvedOutputFiles.FileName)%(_ResolvedOutputFiles.Extension)</PackagePath>
       </TfmSpecificPackageFile>
     </ItemGroup>
   </Target>
diff --git a/tests/EndToEndBuildTests/DesignTimeProviderPackaging/TestDesignTimeProviderPackaging.cmd b/tests/EndToEndBuildTests/DesignTimeProviderPackaging/TestDesignTimeProviderPackaging.cmd
index cd3094901f1..34b79723462 100644
--- a/tests/EndToEndBuildTests/DesignTimeProviderPackaging/TestDesignTimeProviderPackaging.cmd
+++ b/tests/EndToEndBuildTests/DesignTimeProviderPackaging/TestDesignTimeProviderPackaging.cmd
@@ -84,8 +84,7 @@ echo [Test 2] PASSED: Provider test passed
 
 echo.
 echo === Test 3: Host with ProjectReference to Provider ===
-echo [Test 3] Packing Host with ProjectReference to Provider...
-echo [Test 3] Note: This tests experimental execution-time reference checking
+echo [Test 3] Packing Host that activates a design-time provider via ProjectReference metadata...
 echo [Test 3] Command: dotnet pack Host\Host.fsproj -o %~dp0artifacts -c %configuration% -v minimal -bl:%~dp0artifacts\host.binlog -p:FSharpTestCompilerVersion=coreclr
      dotnet pack Host\Host.fsproj -o %~dp0artifacts -c %configuration% -v minimal -bl:%~dp0artifacts\host.binlog -p:FSharpTestCompilerVersion=coreclr
 if ERRORLEVEL 1 (
@@ -94,9 +93,17 @@ if ERRORLEVEL 1 (
     goto :failure
 )
 
-rem Note: This test may not work as expected due to MSBuild evaluation phase limitations
-rem The current implementation only checks IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider property directly
-echo [Test 3] PASSED: Host test completed (implementation limitation noted - may not check references correctly)
+rem Check that tools folder exists in nupkg (provider activated via ProjectReference IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider metadata)
+echo [Test 3] Checking that package contains tools/fsharp41 folder...
+powershell -command "& { Add-Type -AssemblyName System.IO.Compression.FileSystem; $zip = [System.IO.Compression.ZipFile]::OpenRead('%~dp0artifacts\Host.1.0.0.nupkg'); $hasTools = $zip.Entries | Where-Object { $_.FullName -like 'tools/fsharp41/*' }; if ($hasTools) { exit 0 } else { exit 1 } }"
+if ERRORLEVEL 1 (
+    echo [Test 3] FAILED: Package does not contain tools/fsharp41 folder
+    echo [Test 3] Expected: provider referenced via ProjectReference should be packaged
+    echo [Test 3] Actual: No tools/fsharp41 folder found in Host.1.0.0.nupkg
+    goto :failure
+)
+
+echo [Test 3] PASSED: Host (ProjectReference gesture) test passed
 
 echo.
 echo === Test 4: Pack with --no-build (No Provider) ===
diff --git a/tests/EndToEndBuildTests/DesignTimeProviderPackaging/TestDesignTimeProviderPackaging.sh b/tests/EndToEndBuildTests/DesignTimeProviderPackaging/TestDesignTimeProviderPackaging.sh
index 9c10fa68ba5..bdff85c326c 100755
--- a/tests/EndToEndBuildTests/DesignTimeProviderPackaging/TestDesignTimeProviderPackaging.sh
+++ b/tests/EndToEndBuildTests/DesignTimeProviderPackaging/TestDesignTimeProviderPackaging.sh
@@ -73,8 +73,7 @@ echo "[Test 2] PASSED: Provider test passed"
 
 echo
 echo "=== Test 3: Host with ProjectReference to Provider ==="
-echo "[Test 3] Packing Host with ProjectReference to Provider..."
-echo "[Test 3] Note: This tests experimental execution-time reference checking"
+echo "[Test 3] Packing Host that activates a design-time provider via ProjectReference metadata..."
 echo "[Test 3] Command: dotnet pack Host/Host.fsproj -o artifacts -c $configuration -v minimal -bl:artifacts/host.binlog -p:FSharpTestCompilerVersion=coreclr"
 if ! dotnet pack Host/Host.fsproj -o artifacts -c $configuration -v minimal -bl:artifacts/host.binlog -p:FSharpTestCompilerVersion=coreclr; then
     echo "[Test 3] FAILED: Pack command returned error code $?"
@@ -82,9 +81,16 @@ if ! dotnet pack Host/Host.fsproj -o artifacts -c $configuration -v minimal -bl:
     exit 1
 fi
 
-# Note: This test may not work as expected due to MSBuild evaluation phase limitations
-# The current implementation only checks IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider property directly
-echo "[Test 3] PASSED: Host test completed (implementation limitation noted - may not check references correctly)"
+# Check that tools folder exists in nupkg (provider activated via ProjectReference IsFSharpDesignTimeProvider metadata)
+echo "[Test 3] Checking that package contains tools/fsharp41 folder..."
+if ! unzip -l artifacts/Host.1.0.0.nupkg | grep -q "tools/fsharp41/"; then
+    echo "[Test 3] FAILED: Package does not contain tools/fsharp41 folder"
+    echo "[Test 3] Expected: provider referenced via ProjectReference should be packaged"
+    echo "[Test 3] Actual: No tools/fsharp41 folder found in Host.1.0.0.nupkg"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "[Test 3] PASSED: Host (ProjectReference gesture) test passed"
 
 echo
 echo "=== Test 4: Pack with --no-build (No Provider) ==="