diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 03b9c44..f55ed25 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ support is a documented future addition — see [`agent/windows/README.md`](agen
 
 - `server/` — Express + TypeScript API, SQLite (via libSQL) storage, Authentik OIDC login.
 - `web/` — React + Vite single-page app, served as static files by the Express server.
-- `agent/linux/` — `report-tasks.sh` (collects cron + systemd timer data) and
-  `install.sh` (installs it as a systemd timer on a target server).
+- `agent/linux/` — `report-tasks.sh` (collects cron + systemd timer data),
+  `install.sh` (installs it as a systemd timer on a target server), and
+  `uninstall.sh` (removes it).
 
 Data model, API contract, and sync behavior are documented in code:
 [`server/src/db/schema.ts`](server/src/db/schema.ts),
@@ -64,11 +65,13 @@ automatically on server start.
 
 1. Sign in, go to **Servers**, and add a server. The generated API token is
    shown once — copy it.
-2. On the target Linux server (as root):
+2. On the target Linux server, as root. If you're not already root, put
+   `sudo` right after the pipe so it elevates `bash`, not `curl` — `sudo curl
+   ... | bash` would still fail the root check:
 
    ```sh
    curl -fsSL https://schedule.example.lan/agent/linux/install.sh | \
-     API_URL=https://schedule.example.lan API_TOKEN=stm_xxx bash
+     sudo API_URL=https://schedule.example.lan API_TOKEN=stm_xxx bash
    ```
 
    This installs `report-tasks.sh` to `/usr/local/bin`, writes the API
@@ -76,7 +79,10 @@ automatically on server start.
    `schedule-task-manager-agent.timer` systemd timer that reports every 15
    minutes (override with `INTERVAL_MINUTES=5` before the `bash` above).
 
-   Requires `curl`, `jq`, and `systemd` on the target server.
+   Requires `curl`, `jq`, and `systemd` on the target server — if either
+   `curl` or `jq` is missing, both this script and `report-tasks.sh` print
+   the right install command for the server's package manager (apt, dnf,
+   yum, apk, pacman, or zypper) and exit.
 
 3. Tasks appear on the Dashboard, grouped by server and then by schedule type,
    within one reporting interval.
@@ -88,7 +94,7 @@ hidden by default — toggle "Show stale/missing tasks" to see them.
 To remove the agent from a server, run:
 
 ```sh
-curl -fsSL https://schedule.example.lan/agent/linux/uninstall.sh | bash
+curl -fsSL https://schedule.example.lan/agent/linux/uninstall.sh | sudo bash
 ```
 
 This stops and deletes the systemd timer/service, the installed script, and
diff --git a/agent/linux/install.sh b/agent/linux/install.sh
index 36aa887..d30f42b 100644
--- a/agent/linux/install.sh
+++ b/agent/linux/install.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # Installs the Schedule Task Manager agent as a systemd timer.
 #
-# Usage:
+# Usage (must run as root — if not already root, put sudo right after the
+# pipe so it applies to bash, not to curl):
 #   curl -fsSL https://schedule.example.lan/agent/linux/install.sh | \
-#     API_URL=https://schedule.example.lan API_TOKEN=stm_xxx bash
+#     sudo API_URL=https://schedule.example.lan API_TOKEN=stm_xxx bash
 #
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -17,16 +18,41 @@ INTERVAL_MINUTES="${INTERVAL_MINUTES:-15}"
 
 if [[ "$EUID" -ne 0 ]]; then
   echo "This installer must be run as root (it installs a systemd timer)." >&2
+  echo "If you're piping from curl, put sudo right after the pipe so it elevates bash, not curl:" >&2
+  echo "  curl -fsSL ... | sudo API_URL=... API_TOKEN=... bash" >&2
   exit 1
 fi
 
-for bin in curl jq systemctl; do
+suggest_package_install() {
+  local pkg="$1"
+  if command -v apt-get >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y $pkg"
+  elif command -v dnf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo dnf install -y $pkg"
+  elif command -v yum >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo yum install -y $pkg"
+  elif command -v apk >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo apk add $pkg"
+  elif command -v pacman >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo pacman -S $pkg"
+  elif command -v zypper >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo zypper install -y $pkg"
+  fi
+}
+
+for bin in curl jq; do
   if ! command -v "$bin" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    echo "Required dependency '$bin' is not installed." >&2
+    echo "Required dependency '$bin' is not installed. Try:" >&2
+    suggest_package_install "$bin" >&2
     exit 1
   fi
 done
 
+if ! command -v systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "systemctl was not found — this installer requires a systemd-based Linux distribution." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 echo "Installing Schedule Task Manager agent from $API_URL ..."
 
 curl -fsSL "$API_URL/agent/linux/report-tasks.sh" -o "$INSTALL_DIR/schedule-task-manager-agent.sh"
@@ -69,4 +95,4 @@ echo "Installed. Running an initial report now..."
 "$INSTALL_DIR/schedule-task-manager-agent.sh"
 
 echo "Done. The agent reports every ${INTERVAL_MINUTES} minute(s) via the 'schedule-task-manager-agent.timer' systemd timer."
-echo "To remove it later: curl -fsSL $API_URL/agent/linux/uninstall.sh | bash"
+echo "To remove it later: curl -fsSL $API_URL/agent/linux/uninstall.sh | sudo bash"
diff --git a/agent/linux/report-tasks.sh b/agent/linux/report-tasks.sh
index 0b2c38a..8a94e31 100644
--- a/agent/linux/report-tasks.sh
+++ b/agent/linux/report-tasks.sh
@@ -23,9 +23,27 @@ if [[ -z "$API_URL" || -z "$API_TOKEN" ]]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
+suggest_package_install() {
+  local pkg="$1"
+  if command -v apt-get >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y $pkg"
+  elif command -v dnf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo dnf install -y $pkg"
+  elif command -v yum >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo yum install -y $pkg"
+  elif command -v apk >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo apk add $pkg"
+  elif command -v pacman >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo pacman -S $pkg"
+  elif command -v zypper >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  sudo zypper install -y $pkg"
+  fi
+}
+
 for bin in curl jq; do
   if ! command -v "$bin" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    echo "Required dependency '$bin' is not installed." >&2
+    echo "Required dependency '$bin' is not installed. Try:" >&2
+    suggest_package_install "$bin" >&2
     exit 1
   fi
 done
diff --git a/agent/linux/uninstall.sh b/agent/linux/uninstall.sh
index 474aa51..7146d38 100644
--- a/agent/linux/uninstall.sh
+++ b/agent/linux/uninstall.sh
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@
 # Removes the Schedule Task Manager agent from this server: stops and deletes
 # its systemd timer/service, the installed script, and its credentials file.
 #
-# Usage:
-#   curl -fsSL https://schedule.example.lan/agent/linux/uninstall.sh | bash
+# Usage (must run as root — if not already root, put sudo right after the
+# pipe so it applies to bash, not to curl):
+#   curl -fsSL https://schedule.example.lan/agent/linux/uninstall.sh | sudo bash
 #
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -13,6 +14,8 @@ SYSTEMD_DIR="/etc/systemd/system"
 
 if [[ "$EUID" -ne 0 ]]; then
   echo "This uninstaller must be run as root." >&2
+  echo "If you're piping from curl, put sudo right after the pipe so it elevates bash, not curl:" >&2
+  echo "  curl -fsSL ... | sudo bash" >&2
   exit 1
 fi
 
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ServersAdmin.tsx b/web/src/pages/ServersAdmin.tsx
index 554ebef..a228117 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ServersAdmin.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ServersAdmin.tsx
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ export default function ServersAdmin() {
           <h3>Agent token for {newToken.server.name}</h3>
           <p>This token is only shown once — copy it now.</p>
           <code className="token-value">{newToken.token}</code>
-          <p>Install the agent on the server:</p>
-          <pre className="install-command">{`curl -fsSL ${window.location.origin}/agent/linux/install.sh | API_URL=${window.location.origin} API_TOKEN=${newToken.token} bash`}</pre>
+          <p>Install the agent on the server (run as root — put sudo right after the pipe, not before curl):</p>
+          <pre className="install-command">{`curl -fsSL ${window.location.origin}/agent/linux/install.sh | sudo API_URL=${window.location.origin} API_TOKEN=${newToken.token} bash`}</pre>
           <button onClick={() => setNewToken(null)} className="btn">
             Dismiss
           </button>
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ export default function ServersAdmin() {
       {uninstallFor && (
         <section className="token-reveal uninstall-reveal">
           <h3>Uninstall agent from {uninstallFor.name}</h3>
-          <p>Run this on the server to stop and remove the agent (its entry here is kept):</p>
-          <pre className="install-command">{`curl -fsSL ${window.location.origin}/agent/linux/uninstall.sh | bash`}</pre>
+          <p>Run this on the server as root to stop and remove the agent (its entry here is kept):</p>
+          <pre className="install-command">{`curl -fsSL ${window.location.origin}/agent/linux/uninstall.sh | sudo bash`}</pre>
           <button onClick={() => setUninstallFor(null)} className="btn">
             Dismiss
           </button>