diff --git a/install/bash/install.sh b/install/bash/install.sh
index 72b55a93..e8cb2be2 100755
--- a/install/bash/install.sh
+++ b/install/bash/install.sh
@@ -312,13 +312,24 @@ fi
 
 PLAIN_FORGE_INSTALLED=false
 if [[ ! "${INSTALL_PLAIN_FORGE:-}" =~ ^[Nn]$ ]]; then
-    if command -v npx &> /dev/null; then
-        npx plain-forge install < /dev/tty
-        PLAIN_FORGE_INSTALLED=true
+    # A stale nvm/volta/asdf shim can make npx resolvable without a working
+    # Node.js behind it, so verify node actually runs before invoking npx.
+    if command -v npx &> /dev/null && node --version &> /dev/null; then
+        # The install must not abort the rest of the setup if plain-forge
+        # fails (set -e is active), so run it inside the condition.
+        if npx plain-forge install < /dev/tty; then
+            PLAIN_FORGE_INSTALLED=true
+        else
+            echo -e "${GRAY}plain-forge installation failed. You can retry later with:${NC}"
+            echo -e "  npx plain-forge install"
+        fi
         echo ""
     else
-        echo -e "${GRAY}npx not found. Install Node.js, then run:${NC}"
-        echo -e "  npx plain-forge install"
+        echo -e "  ${GRAY}plain-forge brings codeplain's agentic skills to your coding agent,${NC}"
+        echo -e "  ${GRAY}but installing it requires Node.js, which was not found on this machine.${NC}"
+        echo ""
+        echo -e "  ${GRAY}If you want it, install Node.js and then run:${NC}"
+        echo -e "  ${WHITE}${BOLD}npx plain-forge install${NC}"
         echo ""
     fi
 fi
diff --git a/install/powershell/install.ps1 b/install/powershell/install.ps1
index 0ac18e80..8c96e0ca 100644
--- a/install/powershell/install.ps1
+++ b/install/powershell/install.ps1
@@ -347,13 +347,39 @@ if ($nonInteractive) {
 
 $plainForgeInstalled = $false
 if ($installPlainForge -notmatch '^[Nn]$') {
-    if (Get-Command npx -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) {
-        npx plain-forge install
-        $plainForgeInstalled = $true
+    # A stale version-manager shim can make npx resolvable without a working
+    # Node.js behind it, so verify node actually runs before invoking npx.
+    $nodeWorks = $false
+    if ((Get-Command node -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -and (Get-Command npx -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
+        try {
+            & node --version *> $null
+            $nodeWorks = ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0)
+        } catch {
+            $nodeWorks = $false
+        }
+    }
+    if ($nodeWorks) {
+        # A plain-forge failure must not abort the rest of the setup
+        # ($ErrorActionPreference is 'Stop').
+        try {
+            npx plain-forge install
+            if ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0) {
+                $plainForgeInstalled = $true
+            }
+        } catch {
+            # fall through to the retry hint below
+        }
+        if (-not $plainForgeInstalled) {
+            Write-Host "${GRAY}plain-forge installation failed. You can retry later with:${NC}"
+            Write-Host "  npx plain-forge install"
+        }
         Write-Host ""
     } else {
-        Write-Host "${GRAY}npx not found. Install Node.js, then run:${NC}"
-        Write-Host "  npx plain-forge install"
+        Write-Host "  ${GRAY}plain-forge brings codeplain's agentic skills to your coding agent,${NC}"
+        Write-Host "  ${GRAY}but installing it requires Node.js, which was not found on this machine.${NC}"
+        Write-Host ""
+        Write-Host "  ${GRAY}If you want it, install Node.js and then run:${NC}"
+        Write-Host "  ${WHITE}${BOLD}npx plain-forge install${NC}"
         Write-Host ""
     }
 }