diff --git a/deploy/setup.sh b/deploy/setup.sh
index d9dea71..34fc454 100755
--- a/deploy/setup.sh
+++ b/deploy/setup.sh
@@ -22,11 +22,16 @@ if ! command -v apt-get &> /dev/null; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-# Ensure curl is available (not installed on minimal Debian)
+# Require curl as a prerequisite (needed to download the script itself)
 if ! command -v curl &> /dev/null; then
-  echo "Installing curl..."
-  apt-get update -qq
-  apt-get install -y -qq curl > /dev/null 2>&1
+  echo "ERROR: curl is required but not installed."
+  echo ""
+  echo "Install it with:"
+  echo "  apt-get install curl"
+  echo ""
+  echo "Then run this command again:"
+  echo "  curl -sL https://gitea.ledrew.me/ledadmin/project-tracker/raw/branch/master/deploy/setup.sh | bash"
+  exit 1
 fi
 
 # Check for Docker