diff --git a/overlay/usr/local/bin/veilor-installer b/overlay/usr/local/bin/veilor-installer
index feab14c..dfa665a 100644
--- a/overlay/usr/local/bin/veilor-installer
+++ b/overlay/usr/local/bin/veilor-installer
@@ -529,7 +529,17 @@ Logs: /var/log/veilor-installer.log + /tmp/anaconda.log"
     # default. Use the locale the user picked (or fall back to en_GB).
     export LANG="${SEL_LOCALE:-en_GB.UTF-8}"
     export LC_ALL="$LANG"
-    if anaconda --kickstart=/run/install/veilor-generated.ks; then
+    # XDG_RUNTIME_DIR must exist — anaconda's display.setup_display()
+    # tries os.getenv("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR") + constants.WAYLAND_SOCKET_NAME
+    # and crashes with TypeError on None. We're running unattended so
+    # no graphical display is needed, but the env var still has to exist.
+    export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR="/run/user/$(id -u)"
+    mkdir -p "$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR"
+    chmod 0700 "$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR"
+    # --cmdline: fully unattended text-only mode. No Wayland setup, no
+    # graphical/text TUI. Reads kickstart, executes, reboots. Right mode
+    # for our gum-driven flow where ks is fully self-contained.
+    if anaconda --cmdline --kickstart=/run/install/veilor-generated.ks; then
         prompt_message "Install complete. System will reboot.
 Remove the install media after shutdown."
         sleep 3