diff --git a/scripts/start-web.sh b/scripts/start-web.sh
index cc1a170..64f9b34 100644
--- a/scripts/start-web.sh
+++ b/scripts/start-web.sh
@@ -7,8 +7,31 @@ echo "[start-web] Node: $(node -v || true)"
 cd /app
 
 # Ensure pnpm available in this base image
-corepack enable >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-corepack prepare pnpm@9 --activate >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+ensure_pnpm() {
+  if command -v pnpm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if command -v corepack >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    corepack enable >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    corepack prepare pnpm@9 --activate >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  fi
+
+  if command -v pnpm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if command -v npm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    npm install -g pnpm@9 >/dev/null 2>&1
+  fi
+
+  if ! command -v pnpm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "[start-web] pnpm not available; aborting startup" >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
+ensure_pnpm
 
 echo "[start-web] Using APP_DIR=$(pwd)"
 echo "[start-web] NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=${NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL:-}"