diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy-talkpro.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy-talkpro.yml
index 1175de3..0280ea0 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy-talkpro.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy-talkpro.yml
@@ -45,6 +45,26 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
+      - name: Install rsync and SSH client
+        run: |
+          if command -v rsync >/dev/null && command -v ssh >/dev/null; then
+            echo "rsync and ssh already installed"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          if command -v apt-get >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            sudo apt-get update -qq
+            sudo apt-get install -y -qq rsync openssh-client
+          elif command -v apk >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            sudo apk add --no-cache rsync openssh-client-default
+          elif command -v dnf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            sudo dnf install -y rsync openssh-clients
+          else
+            echo "ERROR: Could not install rsync — apt-get, apk, or dnf required" >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          command -v rsync
+          command -v ssh
+
       - name: Trust host key
         run: |
           mkdir -p ~/.ssh
diff --git a/scripts/deploy-talkpro.sh b/scripts/deploy-talkpro.sh
index a338306..e7b53ab 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy-talkpro.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy-talkpro.sh
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ else
 fi
 npm run build
 
+command -v ssh >/dev/null || { echo "ERROR: ssh not found (install openssh-client)" >&2; exit 127; }
+command -v rsync >/dev/null || { echo "ERROR: rsync not found (CI: apt-get install rsync)" >&2; exit 127; }
+
 ssh "${SSH_OPTS[@]}" "${USER}@${HOST}" "mkdir -p ${REMOTE_ROOT}"
 
 rsync -avz --delete \