diff --git a/install/install.py b/install/install.py
index 1fa4829d7..932091472 100644
--- a/install/install.py
+++ b/install/install.py
@@ -666,6 +666,7 @@ class preFlightsChecks:
                 ("dnf install -y epel-release", "EPEL"),
                 ("dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb 2>/dev/null || dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools 2>/dev/null || true", "CRB/PowerTools"),
                 ("dnf install -y htop 2>/dev/null || true", "htop"),
+                ("dnf install -y libxcrypt-compat 2>/dev/null || true", "libxcrypt-compat for lscpd"),
             ):
                 self.call(cmd, self.distro, desc, desc, 1, 0, os.EX_OSERR)
             for cmd, desc in (
@@ -4995,6 +4996,21 @@ user_query = SELECT email as user, password, 'vmail' as uid, 'vmail' as gid, '/h
                         result = open('/etc/lsb-release', 'r').read()
                         if result.find('22.04') > -1 or result.find('24.04') > -1:
                             lscpdSelection = 'lscpd.0.4.0'
+                    # AlmaLinux/RHEL 9 and 10: lscpd.0.4.0 (el9 binary on el10; origin/v2.4.5)
+                    try:
+                        cl_al_ver = FetchCloudLinuxAlmaVersionVersion()
+                        if cl_al_ver in ('al-93', 'al-100'):
+                            lscpdSelection = 'lscpd.0.4.0'
+                    except Exception:
+                        pass
+                    if os.path.exists('/etc/os-release'):
+                        with open('/etc/os-release', 'r') as f:
+                            osrel = f.read()
+                        if (('VERSION_ID="9"' in osrel or 'VERSION_ID="10"' in osrel or
+                             'VERSION_ID="9.' in osrel or 'VERSION_ID="10.' in osrel) and
+                                ('AlmaLinux' in osrel or 'Rocky' in osrel or 'Red Hat' in osrel or
+                                 'CentOS' in osrel)):
+                            lscpdSelection = 'lscpd.0.4.0'
                 else:
                     lscpdSelection = 'lscpd.aarch64'
 
@@ -5005,6 +5021,12 @@ user_query = SELECT email as user, password, 'vmail' as uid, 'vmail' as gid, '/h
                     result = open('/etc/lsb-release', 'r').read()
                     if result.find('22.04') > -1 or result.find('24.04') > -1:
                         lscpdSelection = 'lscpd.0.4.0'
+                try:
+                    cl_al_ver = FetchCloudLinuxAlmaVersionVersion()
+                    if cl_al_ver in ('al-93', 'al-100'):
+                        lscpdSelection = 'lscpd.0.4.0'
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
 
 
             command = f'cp -f /usr/local/CyberCP/{lscpdSelection} /usr/local/lscp/bin/{lscpdSelection}'
@@ -5401,8 +5423,18 @@ user_query = SELECT email as user, password, 'vmail' as uid, 'vmail' as gid, '/h
 
             ##
 
+            command = 'systemctl daemon-reload'
+            preFlightsChecks.call(command, self.distro, command, command, 1, 0, os.EX_OSERR)
             command = 'systemctl start lscpd'
-            # preFlightsChecks.call(command, self.distro, command, command, 1, 0, os.EX_OSERR)
+            ret = preFlightsChecks.call(command, self.distro, command, command, 0, 0, os.EX_OSERR)
+            if ret != 0:
+                preFlightsChecks.stdOut("LSCPD start failed, reloading systemd and retrying...")
+                logging.InstallLog.writeToFile("LSCPD first start failed, retrying after daemon-reload")
+                preFlightsChecks.call('systemctl daemon-reload', self.distro, 'daemon-reload', 'daemon-reload', 1, 0, os.EX_OSERR)
+                ret = preFlightsChecks.call('systemctl start lscpd', self.distro, 'systemctl start lscpd', 'systemctl start lscpd', 0, 0, os.EX_OSERR)
+            if ret != 0:
+                preFlightsChecks.stdOut("[WARNING] LSCPD may not have started. Run: systemctl status lscpd")
+                logging.InstallLog.writeToFile("[WARNING] LSCPD start failed after retry - run systemctl status lscpd")
 
             preFlightsChecks.stdOut("LSCPD Daemon Set!")
 
diff --git a/install/venvsetup_modules/04_after_install.sh b/install/venvsetup_modules/04_after_install.sh
index ad98aceac..b14eb0e5d 100644
--- a/install/venvsetup_modules/04_after_install.sh
+++ b/install/venvsetup_modules/04_after_install.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,17 @@
 # install/venvsetup part 4 – after_install
 
 after_install() {
+# Robust lscpd restart (origin/v2.4.5 e49ed16f; EL9/10)
+_restart_lscpd_safe() {
+	systemctl daemon-reload 2>/dev/null || true
+	systemctl restart lscpd 2>/dev/null || true
+	if ! systemctl is-active --quiet lscpd 2>/dev/null; then
+		systemctl daemon-reload
+		systemctl restart lscpd
+	fi
+	systemctl restart fastapi_ssh_server 2>/dev/null || true
+}
+
 if [ ! -d "/var/lib/php" ]; then
 	mkdir /var/lib/php
 fi
@@ -51,7 +62,7 @@ fi
 
 safe_pip_install "pip3.6" "requirements.txt" "--ignore-installed"
 pip3.6 install python-dotenv 2>/dev/null || echo "⚠️  python-dotenv (after_install) skipped or failed"
-systemctl restart lscpd
+_restart_lscpd_safe
 fi
 
 for version in $(ls /usr/local/lsws | grep lsphp); 
@@ -113,7 +124,7 @@ ELAPSED="$(($SECONDS / 3600)) hrs $((($SECONDS / 60) % 60)) min $(($SECONDS % 60
 MYSQLPASSWD=$(cat /etc/cyberpanel/mysqlPassword)
 echo "$ADMIN_PASS" > /etc/cyberpanel/adminPass
 /usr/local/CyberPanel/bin/python2 /usr/local/CyberCP/plogical/adminPass.py --password $ADMIN_PASS
-systemctl restart lscpd
+_restart_lscpd_safe
 systemctl restart lsws
 echo "/usr/local/CyberPanel/bin/python2 /usr/local/CyberCP/plogical/adminPass.py --password \"\$@\"" > /usr/bin/adminPass
 echo "systemctl restart lscpd" >> /usr/bin/adminPass