diff --git a/nix/checked-candidate.nix b/nix/checked-candidate.nix
index 8fc6be4..9533963 100644
--- a/nix/checked-candidate.nix
+++ b/nix/checked-candidate.nix
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ let
               interface = "${compile dependency}/candidate.json";
               generator = protocol;
               typescript = runtimePackages.camino-replica-core.dependencies;
+              reactSdk = runtimePackages.camino-react;
               dependencies = buildDependencies dependency;
             })
           ]
diff --git a/src/react-build/declarations.ts b/src/react-build/declarations.ts
index 72635ae..2a7c042 100644
--- a/src/react-build/declarations.ts
+++ b/src/react-build/declarations.ts
@@ -101,13 +101,28 @@ export function presentationDeclarations(
       if (!child.name || names.has(child.name) || !child.slot || !child.root)
         throw Error(`${name}: child requires a unique name, slot and root`);
       names.add(child.name);
+      // A local module identifies a closed role, including its generic arguments.
+      // This avoids inventing an import alias for a generic application solely
+      // to select that role in the React preparation manifest.
+      let role: ReactChildDeclaration["role"];
+      if (child.role) {
+        const authored = object(child.role, `${name}.${child.name} role`);
+        if (typeof authored.module === "string") {
+          const target = pkg.modules?.find((entry) => entry.displayName === authored.module);
+          if (!target || Object.keys(authored).length !== 1)
+            throw Error(`${name}.${child.name}: expected a local module role`);
+          role = { interface: target.interfaceRevisionId, member: target.memberId };
+        } else {
+          role = { ...child.role, interface: imported(child.role.interface) };
+        }
+      }
       if (child.each && child.with) throw Error(`${name}.${child.name}: cannot combine each and with`);
       if (child.each && (!Number.isSafeInteger(child.each.limit) || child.each.limit < 1))
         throw Error(`${name}.${child.name}: finite positive collection limit required`);
       return {
         ...child,
         subject: imported(child.subject),
-        ...(child.role ? { role: { ...child.role, interface: imported(child.role.interface) } } : {}),
+        ...(role ? { role } : {}),
       };
     });
     artifact.modules.push({ module: module.id, composition, children: parsed });
diff --git a/test/prepared-presentations.test.ts b/test/prepared-presentations.test.ts
index 5895fbb..d456f7a 100644
--- a/test/prepared-presentations.test.ts
+++ b/test/prepared-presentations.test.ts
@@ -121,6 +121,19 @@ async function fixture(replacement = "First", change?: (artifact: ReactPreparati
   return { workspace: workspace.workspace, pkg: workspace.workspace.packageImports[0]!, authored, interfaces };
 }
 
+test("a local module names its checked role without a synthetic import alias", async () => {
+  const { pkg, authored, interfaces } = await fixture();
+  const source = structuredClone(authored) as any;
+  source.modules.LibraryCard.children[0].role = { module: "First" };
+  const declared = presentationDeclarations(JSON.stringify(source), pkg, [...interfaces.values()]);
+  assert.deepEqual(declared.artifact.modules[0]!.children[0]!.role, { interface: "row-role@1", member: "row-render" });
+  source.modules.LibraryCard.children[0].role = { module: "Missing" };
+  assert.throws(
+    () => presentationDeclarations(JSON.stringify(source), pkg, [...interfaces.values()]),
+    /local module role/,
+  );
+});
+
 test("workspace expands distinct providers' private inputs without parent field declarations", async () => {
   const { pkg } = await fixture();
   const parent = pkg.checkedQueries!.find((query) => query.declaration.id === "react:input:library-card:data")!;