diff --git a/scripts/build.sh b/scripts/build.sh
index d6024e6..30d6812 100755
--- a/scripts/build.sh
+++ b/scripts/build.sh
@@ -13,8 +13,14 @@ BUILD_DIR="build"
 build_gui() {
   echo "==> Building GUI binary..."
 
-  # Build frontend
-  cd frontend && npm run build && cd ..
+  # Ensure frontend dependencies are installed
+  cd frontend
+  if [ ! -d "node_modules" ] || [ ! -f "node_modules/.package-lock.json" ]; then
+    echo "==> Installing frontend dependencies..."
+    npm install
+  fi
+  npm run build
+  cd ..
 
   # Copy frontend dist to Wails embed directory
   rm -rf cmd/verstak-gui/frontend-dist