diff --git a/hermes_cli/gateway.py b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
index b2f5f57d0..b89db974c 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/gateway.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
@@ -157,6 +157,12 @@ def generate_systemd_unit() -> str:
     import shutil
     python_path = get_python_path()
     working_dir = str(PROJECT_ROOT)
+    venv_dir = str(PROJECT_ROOT / "venv")
+    venv_bin = str(PROJECT_ROOT / "venv" / "bin")
+    node_bin = str(PROJECT_ROOT / "node_modules" / ".bin")
+
+    # Build a PATH that includes the venv, node_modules, and standard system dirs
+    sane_path = f"{venv_bin}:{node_bin}:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
     
     hermes_cli = shutil.which("hermes") or f"{python_path} -m hermes_cli.main"
     return f"""[Unit]
@@ -168,6 +174,8 @@ Type=simple
 ExecStart={python_path} -m hermes_cli.main gateway run --replace
 ExecStop={hermes_cli} gateway stop
 WorkingDirectory={working_dir}
+Environment="PATH={sane_path}"
+Environment="VIRTUAL_ENV={venv_dir}"
 Restart=on-failure
 RestartSec=10
 KillMode=mixed
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 5a6f7f736..b4a9716ba 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -829,6 +829,33 @@ install_node_deps() {
             log_warn "npm install failed (browser tools may not work)"
         }
         log_success "Node.js dependencies installed"
+
+        # Install Playwright browser + system dependencies.
+        # Playwright's install-deps only supports apt/dnf/zypper natively.
+        # For Arch/Manjaro we install the system libs via pacman first.
+        log_info "Installing browser engine (Playwright Chromium)..."
+        case "$DISTRO" in
+            arch|manjaro)
+                if command -v pacman &> /dev/null; then
+                    log_info "Arch/Manjaro detected — installing Chromium system dependencies via pacman..."
+                    if command -v sudo &> /dev/null && sudo -n true 2>/dev/null; then
+                        sudo NEEDRESTART_MODE=a pacman -S --noconfirm --needed \
+                            nss atk at-spi2-core cups libdrm libxkbcommon mesa pango cairo alsa-lib >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+                    elif [ "$(id -u)" -eq 0 ]; then
+                        pacman -S --noconfirm --needed \
+                            nss atk at-spi2-core cups libdrm libxkbcommon mesa pango cairo alsa-lib >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+                    else
+                        log_warn "Cannot install browser deps without sudo. Run manually:"
+                        log_warn "  sudo pacman -S nss atk at-spi2-core cups libdrm libxkbcommon mesa pango cairo alsa-lib"
+                    fi
+                fi
+                cd "$INSTALL_DIR" && npx playwright install chromium 2>/dev/null || true
+                ;;
+            *)
+                cd "$INSTALL_DIR" && npx playwright install --with-deps chromium 2>/dev/null || true
+                ;;
+        esac
+        log_success "Browser engine installed"
     fi
 
     # Install WhatsApp bridge dependencies
diff --git a/tools/browser_tool.py b/tools/browser_tool.py
index 2ea0c28fe..e1bd32239 100644
--- a/tools/browser_tool.py
+++ b/tools/browser_tool.py
@@ -815,6 +815,13 @@ def _run_browser_command(
             level = logging.WARNING if result.returncode != 0 else logging.DEBUG
             logger.log(level, "browser '%s' stderr: %s", command, result.stderr.strip()[:500])
         
+        # Log empty output as warning — common sign of broken agent-browser
+        if not result.stdout.strip() and result.returncode == 0:
+            logger.warning("browser '%s' returned empty stdout with rc=0. "
+                           "cmd=%s stderr=%s",
+                           command, " ".join(cmd_parts[:4]) + "...",
+                           (result.stderr or "")[:200])
+
         # Parse JSON output
         if result.stdout.strip():
             try: