diff --git a/scripts/run_client.py b/scripts/run_client.py
index 71bad4d..a33a446 100644
--- a/scripts/run_client.py
+++ b/scripts/run_client.py
@@ -366,32 +366,53 @@ def install_service_systemd(
         
         content = f"[Unit]\nDescription=Medios-Macina Client\nAfter=network.target\n\n[Service]\nType=simple\nExecStart={exec_args}\nWorkingDirectory={str(repo_root)}\nRestart=on-failure\nEnvironment=PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1\n\n[Install]\nWantedBy=default.target\n"
         unit_file.write_text(content, encoding="utf-8")
-        subprocess.run([systemctl, "--user", "daemon-reload"], check=True)
-        subprocess.run(
+        def _run_systemctl(cmd: List[str]) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
+            try:
+                return subprocess.run(
+                    cmd,
+                    capture_output=True,
+                    text=True,
+                    check=False,
+                )
+            except Exception as exc:
+                raise
+
+        failed = False
+        for cmd in [
+            [systemctl, "--user", "daemon-reload"],
             [systemctl,
              "--user",
              "enable",
              "--now",
              f"{service_name}.service"],
-            check=True
-        )
+        ]:
+            result = _run_systemctl(cmd)
+            if result.returncode != 0:
+                stderr = (result.stderr or "").strip()
+                stdout = (result.stdout or "").strip()
+                err_lines = "\n".join([l for l in [stderr, stdout] if l])
+                print("Failed to run systemctl", cmd, "exit", result.returncode)
+                if err_lines:
+                    print(err_lines)
+                if "user scope bus" in err_lines.lower() or "xdg_runtime_dir" in err_lines.lower():
+                    print("systemd user bus unavailable; falling back to cron @reboot install.")
+                    return install_service_cron(
+                        service_name,
+                        repo_root,
+                        venv_py,
+                        headless=headless,
+                        detached=detached,
+                        pull=pull,
+                        workspace_root=workspace_root,
+                    )
+                failed = True
+                break
+
+        if failed:
+            return False
+
         print(f"systemd user service '{service_name}' installed and started.")
         return True
-    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-        err_msg = str(e)
-        print("Failed to create systemd user service:", err_msg)
-        if "user scope bus" in err_msg.lower():
-            print("systemd user bus unavailable; falling back to cron @reboot install.")
-            return install_service_cron(
-                service_name,
-                repo_root,
-                venv_py,
-                headless=headless,
-                detached=detached,
-                pull=pull,
-                workspace_root=workspace_root,
-            )
-        return False
     except Exception as exc:
         print("systemd install error:", exc)
         return False