diff --git a/scripts/start-web.sh b/scripts/start-web.sh
index 39d6039..fba7891 100644
--- a/scripts/start-web.sh
+++ b/scripts/start-web.sh
@@ -15,6 +15,17 @@ echo "[start-web] Using APP_DIR=$(pwd)"
 echo "[start-web] NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=${NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL:-}"
 echo "[start-web] NEXT_PUBLIC_CONVEX_URL=${NEXT_PUBLIC_CONVEX_URL:-}"
 
+# Ensure openssl is available for Prisma runtime checks (best-effort, idempotent)
+if ! command -v openssl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if command -v apt-get >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "[start-web] openssl not found; installing via apt-get (requires root)"
+    apt-get update -y >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    apt-get install -y openssl >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  else
+    echo "[start-web] openssl not found and apt-get unavailable; continuing" >&2
+  fi
+fi
+
 # Bun keeps its store in node_modules/.bun by default; ensure it exists and is writable
 mkdir -p node_modules/.bun >/dev/null 2>&1 || true