diff --git a/packages/shorebird_cli/lib/src/commands/release/ios_releaser.dart b/packages/shorebird_cli/lib/src/commands/release/ios_releaser.dart
index a478b83f..183f5f5b 100644
--- a/packages/shorebird_cli/lib/src/commands/release/ios_releaser.dart
+++ b/packages/shorebird_cli/lib/src/commands/release/ios_releaser.dart
@@ -129,6 +129,22 @@ If left checked, Xcode will rewrite the build number in the uploaded IPA, so the
       throw ProcessExit(ExitCode.software.code);
     }
 
+    // When code signing is requested (the default), `flutter build ipa` is
+    // expected to export a signed .ipa. Flutter treats the export step as
+    // optional and exits 0 even when it fails (e.g. no signing certificate),
+    // so we must verify the .ipa was actually produced. Otherwise we would
+    // report a successful release and point the user at an .ipa that does not
+    // exist. See https://github.com/shorebirdtech/shorebird/issues/3807.
+    if (codesign && artifactManager.getIpa() == null) {
+      logger.err(
+        '''
+Unable to find generated IPA. This usually means that the IPA export step of "flutter build ipa" failed (for example, due to a missing or invalid code signing certificate). Review the build output above for the underlying error.
+
+If you do not need a signed IPA (for example, you will sign the .xcarchive in Xcode), re-run this command with --no-codesign.''',
+      );
+      throw ProcessExit(ExitCode.software.code);
+    }
+
     return xcarchiveDirectory;
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/shorebird_cli/test/src/commands/release/ios_releaser_test.dart b/packages/shorebird_cli/test/src/commands/release/ios_releaser_test.dart
index 38fd9f0e..07daf1de 100644
--- a/packages/shorebird_cli/test/src/commands/release/ios_releaser_test.dart
+++ b/packages/shorebird_cli/test/src/commands/release/ios_releaser_test.dart
@@ -423,6 +423,9 @@ $body
         when(
           () => artifactManager.getXcarchiveDirectory(),
         ).thenReturn(xcarchiveDirectory);
+        when(
+          () => artifactManager.getIpa(),
+        ).thenReturn(File(p.join(Directory.systemTemp.path, 'app.ipa')));
 
         when(
           () => codeSigner.base64PublicKeyFromPem(any()),
@@ -660,6 +663,42 @@ $body
         });
       });
 
+      group('when codesigning and ipa not found after build', () {
+        setUp(() {
+          when(() => argResults['codesign']).thenReturn(true);
+          when(() => artifactManager.getIpa()).thenReturn(null);
+        });
+
+        test('logs message and exits with code 70', () async {
+          await expectLater(
+            () => runWithOverrides(iosReleaser.buildReleaseArtifacts),
+            exitsWithCode(ExitCode.software),
+          );
+
+          verify(
+            () => logger.err(
+              any(that: contains('Unable to find generated IPA')),
+            ),
+          ).called(1);
+        });
+      });
+
+      group('when not codesigning and ipa not found after build', () {
+        setUp(() {
+          when(() => argResults['codesign']).thenReturn(false);
+          when(() => artifactManager.getIpa()).thenReturn(null);
+        });
+
+        test('does not check for the ipa and returns xcarchive path', () async {
+          expect(
+            await runWithOverrides(iosReleaser.buildReleaseArtifacts),
+            equals(xcarchiveDirectory),
+          );
+
+          verifyNever(() => artifactManager.getIpa());
+        });
+      });
+
       group('when --obfuscate is passed', () {
         setUp(() {
           when(() => argResults['obfuscate']).thenReturn(true);