diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index 78a81d98..01948904 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## Unreleased
 
-- Added `rsconnect deploy nodejs` command for deploying Node.js API applications
+- Added `rsconnect deploy nodejs` command for deploying Node.js applications
   (Express, Fastify, etc.) to Posit Connect. Supports JavaScript and TypeScript
   entry points with auto-detection from package.json. Requires Posit Connect with
   Node.js runtime enabled.
diff --git a/rsconnect/bundle.py b/rsconnect/bundle.py
index fc18efd8..6e855cf0 100644
--- a/rsconnect/bundle.py
+++ b/rsconnect/bundle.py
@@ -1362,7 +1362,7 @@ def make_nodejs_manifest(
     env_management_node: Optional[bool] = None,
 ) -> tuple[ManifestData, list[str]]:
     """
-    Makes a manifest for a Node.js API application.
+    Makes a manifest for a Node.js application.
 
     :param directory: the directory containing the files to deploy.
     :param entry_point: the main entry point file (e.g., "app.js").
@@ -1386,7 +1386,7 @@ def make_nodejs_manifest(
     manifest: ManifestData = {
         "version": 1,
         "metadata": {
-            "appmode": AppModes.NODE_API.name(),
+            "appmode": AppModes.NODE_JS.name(),
             "entrypoint": entry_point,
         },
         "node": {
@@ -1427,7 +1427,7 @@ def make_nodejs_bundle(
     env_management_node: Optional[bool] = None,
 ) -> typing.IO[bytes]:
     """
-    Create a Node.js API bundle, given a directory path.
+    Create a Node.js application bundle, given a directory path.
 
     :param directory: the directory containing the files to deploy.
     :param entry_point: the main entry point file (e.g., "app.js").
@@ -2148,7 +2148,7 @@ def write_nodejs_manifest_json(
     env_management_node: Optional[bool] = None,
 ) -> None:
     """
-    Creates and writes a manifest.json file for a Node.js API application.
+    Creates and writes a manifest.json file for a Node.js application.
 
     :param directory: the root directory of the Node.js application.
     :param entry_point: the entry point file (e.g., "app.js").
diff --git a/rsconnect/main.py b/rsconnect/main.py
index eac0b220..b2dc0dcc 100644
--- a/rsconnect/main.py
+++ b/rsconnect/main.py
@@ -2130,9 +2130,9 @@ def deploy_app(
 # noinspection SpellCheckingInspection
 @deploy.command(
     name="nodejs",
-    short_help="Deploy a Node.js API to Posit Connect.",
+    short_help="Deploy a Node.js application to Posit Connect.",
     help=(
-        "Deploy a Node.js API application to Posit Connect. "
+        "Deploy a Node.js application to Posit Connect. "
         'The "directory" argument must refer to an existing directory that contains '
         "a package.json file and a JavaScript or TypeScript entry point."
     ),
@@ -2222,7 +2222,7 @@ def deploy_nodejs(
     extra_files_list = validate_extra_files(directory, extra_files)
     node_environment = NodeEnvironment.create(directory, node_executable=node)
 
-    app_mode = AppModes.NODE_API
+    app_mode = AppModes.NODE_JS
 
     server_version = None
 
@@ -2907,9 +2907,9 @@ def manifest_writer(
 # noinspection SpellCheckingInspection
 @write_manifest.command(
     name="nodejs",
-    short_help="Create a manifest.json file for a Node.js API.",
+    short_help="Create a manifest.json file for a Node.js application.",
     help=(
-        "Create a manifest.json file for a Node.js API for later deployment. "
+        "Create a manifest.json file for a Node.js application for later deployment. "
         "All files are created in the same directory as the application code."
     ),
 )
diff --git a/rsconnect/models.py b/rsconnect/models.py
index 797256f4..fc23f02b 100644
--- a/rsconnect/models.py
+++ b/rsconnect/models.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class AppModes:
     JUPYTER_VOILA = AppMode(16, "jupyter-voila", "Jupyter Voila Application")
     PYTHON_GRADIO = AppMode(17, "python-gradio", "Gradio Application")
     PYTHON_PANEL = AppMode(18, "python-panel", "Panel Application")
-    NODE_API = AppMode(20, "nodejs-api", "Node.js API")
+    NODE_JS = AppMode(20, "nodejs", "Node.js application")
 
     _modes = [
         UNKNOWN,
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class AppModes:
         JUPYTER_VOILA,
         PYTHON_GRADIO,
         PYTHON_PANEL,
-        NODE_API,
+        NODE_JS,
     ]
 
     Modes = Literal[
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class AppModes:
         "jupyter-voila",
         "python-gradio",
         "python-panel",
-        "nodejs-api",
+        "nodejs",
     ]
 
     _cloud_to_connect_modes = {
@@ -168,9 +168,17 @@ def get_by_ordinal(cls, ordinal: int, return_unknown: bool = False) -> AppMode:
             return_unknown,
         )
 
+    # Aliases for app mode names that have been renamed in Connect. Local
+    # AppStore metadata may still contain the old name from a prior deploy;
+    # this lets resolve() succeed instead of raising on re-deploys.
+    _name_aliases = {
+        "nodejs-api": "nodejs",
+    }
+
     @classmethod
     def get_by_name(cls, name: str, return_unknown: bool = False) -> AppMode:
         """Get an AppMode by name"""
+        name = cls._name_aliases.get(name, name)
         return cls._find_by(lambda mode: mode.name() == name, "named %s" % name, return_unknown)
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/tests/test_bundle.py b/tests/test_bundle.py
index eb0680f5..3420bb29 100644
--- a/tests/test_bundle.py
+++ b/tests/test_bundle.py
@@ -3048,7 +3048,7 @@ def test_manifest_structure(self):
         manifest, files = make_nodejs_manifest(_NODE_EXPRESS_DIR, "app.js", env, [], [])
 
         assert manifest["version"] == 1
-        assert manifest["metadata"]["appmode"] == "nodejs-api"
+        assert manifest["metadata"]["appmode"] == "nodejs"
         assert manifest["metadata"]["entrypoint"] == "app.js"
         assert manifest["node"]["version"] == "22.22.1"
         assert manifest["node"]["package_manager"]["name"] == "npm"
@@ -3120,7 +3120,7 @@ def test_bundle_manifest_content(self):
 
         with tarfile.open(mode="r:gz", fileobj=bundle_file) as tar:
             manifest = json.loads(tar.extractfile("manifest.json").read().decode("utf-8"))
-            assert manifest["metadata"]["appmode"] == "nodejs-api"
+            assert manifest["metadata"]["appmode"] == "nodejs"
             assert manifest["metadata"]["entrypoint"] == "app.js"
             assert manifest["node"]["version"] == "22.22.1"
 
@@ -3190,7 +3190,7 @@ def test_ts_manifest_structure(self):
         env = _make_node_env(node_version="24.14.0")
         manifest, files = make_nodejs_manifest(_NODE_TS_EXPRESS_DIR, "app.ts", env, [], [])
 
-        assert manifest["metadata"]["appmode"] == "nodejs-api"
+        assert manifest["metadata"]["appmode"] == "nodejs"
         assert manifest["metadata"]["entrypoint"] == "app.ts"
         assert manifest["node"]["version"] == "24.14.0"
 
diff --git a/tests/test_main.py b/tests/test_main.py
index a446631d..e841f5a2 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_main.py
@@ -1081,7 +1081,7 @@ def test_help(self):
         runner = CliRunner()
         result = runner.invoke(cli, ["deploy", "nodejs", "--help"])
         assert result.exit_code == 0
-        assert "Node.js API" in result.output
+        assert "Node.js application" in result.output
         assert "--entrypoint" in result.output
         assert "--node" in result.output
         assert "--exclude" in result.output
@@ -1128,7 +1128,7 @@ def test_help(self):
         runner = CliRunner()
         result = runner.invoke(cli, ["write-manifest", "nodejs", "--help"])
         assert result.exit_code == 0
-        assert "Node.js API" in result.output
+        assert "Node.js application" in result.output
         assert "--entrypoint" in result.output
         assert "--node" in result.output
         assert "--overwrite" in result.output