diff --git a/oneclick-conda-install.sh b/oneclick-conda-install.sh
index 47dd94b5e..b8aa5a90d 100644
--- a/oneclick-conda-install.sh
+++ b/oneclick-conda-install.sh
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 readonly PROJECT_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 readonly FRONTEND_DIR="${PROJECT_ROOT}/surfsense_web"
 readonly EXTENSION_DIR="${PROJECT_ROOT}/surfsense_browser_extension"
+readonly BACKEND_DIR="${PROJECT_ROOT}/surfsense_backend"
 
 ENV_NAME="${SURFSENSE_ENV_NAME:-surfsense}"
 PYTHON_VERSION="${SURFSENSE_PYTHON_VERSION:-3.12}"
@@ -74,17 +75,41 @@ main() {
     conda_run python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
 
     info "Installing SurfSense backend dependencies…"
+    if [[ ! -d "${BACKEND_DIR}" ]]; then
+        error "Backend directory not found at '${BACKEND_DIR}'. Verify repository layout and adjust BACKEND_DIR."
+    fi
     conda_run python -m pip install -e "${BACKEND_DIR}"
 
     info "Installing optional developer helpers…"
     conda_run python -m pip install "pre-commit>=3.8.0"
 
     if command -v npm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        info "Installing frontend dependencies (surfsense_web)…"
-        (cd "${FRONTEND_DIR}" && npm install)
-
-        info "Installing browser extension dependencies (surfsense_browser_extension)…"
-        (cd "${EXTENSION_DIR}" && npm install)
+        if command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            NODE_MAJOR="$(node -v | sed -E 's/^v([0-9]+).*/\1/')"
+            if [[ "${NODE_MAJOR}" -lt 18 ]]; then
+                warn "Detected Node.js v$(node -v). Require >= v18; skipping frontend installs."
+                NODE_OK=false
+            else
+                NODE_OK=true
+            fi
+        else
+            warn "node not found (only npm present); skipping frontend installs."
+            NODE_OK=false
+        fi
+        if [[ "${NODE_OK:-false}" == true ]]; then
+            if [[ -d "${FRONTEND_DIR}" ]]; then
+                info "Installing frontend dependencies (surfsense_web)…"
+                (cd "${FRONTEND_DIR}" && npm install)
+            else
+                warn "Frontend directory not found at '${FRONTEND_DIR}'. Skipping web app install."
+            fi
+            if [[ -d "${EXTENSION_DIR}" ]]; then
+                info "Installing browser extension dependencies (surfsense_browser_extension)…"
+                (cd "${EXTENSION_DIR}" && npm install)
+            else
+                warn "Extension directory not found at '${EXTENSION_DIR}'. Skipping extension install."
+            fi
+        fi
     else
         warn "npm not found; skipping frontend dependency installation. Install Node.js 18+ to enable the web UI."
     fi
@@ -96,7 +121,7 @@ main() {
      conda activate ${ENV_NAME}
 
 2. Start the backend API:
-     (cd ${BACKEND_DIR} && uvicorn app.app:app --reload)
+     (cd "${BACKEND_DIR}" && uvicorn app.app:app --reload)
    or refer to DEPLOYMENT_GUIDE.md for production options.
 
 3. Start the web app (if npm was available):
@@ -107,4 +132,3 @@ EOF
 }
 
 main "$@"
-