diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 7a5c74e..7e3ced7 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -237,15 +237,15 @@ SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
 
 log "Installing npm dependencies..."
 cd "$SCRIPT_DIR"
-npm install --silent 2>/dev/null
+npm install || err "npm install failed"
 ok "Dependencies installed"
 
 log "Building TypeScript..."
-npm run build 2>/dev/null
+npm run build || err "npm run build failed"
 ok "Build complete"
 
 log "Linking global command..."
-sudo npm link 2>/dev/null
+sudo npm link || err "npm link failed"
 ok "fireclaw command available globally"
 
 log "Running fireclaw setup (kernel + base rootfs + bridge + SSH keys)..."
@@ -264,20 +264,26 @@ else
     log "Creating 1G agent rootfs from Alpine base..."
     cp "$FIRECLAW_DIR/base-rootfs.ext4" /tmp/agent-build.ext4
     truncate -s 1G /tmp/agent-build.ext4
-    sudo /usr/sbin/e2fsck -fy /tmp/agent-build.ext4 >/dev/null 2>&1
-    sudo /usr/sbin/resize2fs /tmp/agent-build.ext4 >/dev/null 2>&1
+
+    log "  Checking filesystem..."
+    sudo e2fsck -fy /tmp/agent-build.ext4 || err "e2fsck failed. Is e2fsprogs installed?"
+
+    log "  Resizing to 1G..."
+    sudo resize2fs /tmp/agent-build.ext4 || err "resize2fs failed."
     ok "Image resized to 1G"
 
     mkdir -p /tmp/agent-build-mnt
-    sudo mount /tmp/agent-build.ext4 /tmp/agent-build-mnt
+    sudo mount /tmp/agent-build.ext4 /tmp/agent-build-mnt || err "Failed to mount agent rootfs"
 
-    log "Installing packages (openssh, python3, podman, curl, jq, bash)..."
+    log "Installing Alpine packages (openssh, python3, podman, curl, jq, bash)..."
+    log "  This may take a minute..."
     sudo chroot /tmp/agent-build-mnt sh -c '
-        apk update >/dev/null 2>&1
-        apk add --no-cache openssh-server ca-certificates curl jq python3 bash openrc podman iptables >/dev/null 2>&1
-        rc-update add sshd default 2>/dev/null
-        rc-update add cgroups boot 2>/dev/null
-        ssh-keygen -A 2>/dev/null
+        set -e
+        apk update
+        apk add --no-cache openssh-server ca-certificates curl jq python3 bash openrc podman iptables
+        rc-update add sshd default
+        rc-update add cgroups boot
+        ssh-keygen -A
         echo "PermitRootLogin prohibit-password" >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config
         adduser -D -h /home/agent -s /bin/bash agent
         echo "root:100000:65536" > /etc/subuid
@@ -289,7 +295,7 @@ else
         echo "netns = \"host\"" >> /etc/containers/containers.conf
         echo "[storage]" > /etc/containers/storage.conf
         echo "driver = \"vfs\"" >> /etc/containers/storage.conf
-    '
+    ' || err "Failed to install packages in chroot"
     ok "Alpine packages installed"
 
     log "Installing agent script and config..."