diff --git a/install/install.py b/install/install.py
index 3df2263bc..384aeb76f 100644
--- a/install/install.py
+++ b/install/install.py
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ class preFlightsChecks:
             # These packages from MariaDB 12.1 can conflict with MariaDB 10.11
             self.stdOut("Removing conflicting MariaDB compat packages...", 1)
             try:
-                # Remove MariaDB-server-compat packages that conflict with MariaDB 10.11
+                subprocess.run("rpm -e --nodeps MariaDB-server-compat-12.1.2-1.el9.noarch 2>/dev/null; true", shell=True, timeout=30)
                 subprocess.run("dnf remove -y 'MariaDB-server-compat*' 2>/dev/null || true", shell=True, timeout=60)
                 r = subprocess.run("rpm -qa 2>/dev/null | grep -i MariaDB-server-compat", shell=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
                 for line in (r.stdout or "").strip().splitlines():
@@ -1815,6 +1815,7 @@ module cyberpanel_ols {
                 # These packages from MariaDB 12.1 can conflict with MariaDB 10.11
                 self.stdOut("Removing conflicting MariaDB compat packages...", 1)
                 try:
+                    subprocess.run("rpm -e --nodeps MariaDB-server-compat-12.1.2-1.el9.noarch 2>/dev/null; true", shell=True, timeout=30)
                     subprocess.run("dnf remove -y 'MariaDB-server-compat*' 2>/dev/null || true", shell=True, timeout=60)
                     r = subprocess.run("rpm -qa 2>/dev/null | grep -i MariaDB-server-compat", shell=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
                     for line in (r.stdout or "").strip().splitlines():
@@ -6441,6 +6442,7 @@ def main():
     # This package conflicts with MariaDB 10.11 and must be removed early
     preFlightsChecks.stdOut("Removing conflicting MariaDB-server-compat packages...", 1)
     try:
+        subprocess.run("rpm -e --nodeps MariaDB-server-compat-12.1.2-1.el9.noarch 2>/dev/null; true", shell=True, timeout=30)
         subprocess.run("dnf remove -y 'MariaDB-server-compat*' 2>/dev/null || true", shell=True, timeout=60)
         r = subprocess.run("rpm -qa 2>/dev/null | grep -i MariaDB-server-compat", shell=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
         for line in (r.stdout or "").strip().splitlines():
diff --git a/install/install_utils.py b/install/install_utils.py
index 5976ad0e4..5549550fc 100644
--- a/install/install_utils.py
+++ b/install/install_utils.py
@@ -556,6 +556,11 @@ def call(command, distro, bracket, message, log=0, do_exit=0, code=os.EX_OK, she
                 os._exit(code)
             return False
 
+    # CRITICAL: Use shell=True for commands with shell metacharacters
+    # Avoids "No matching repo to modify: 2>/dev/null, true, ||" when shlex.split splits them
+    if not shell and any(x in command for x in (' || ', ' 2>/dev', ' 2>', ' | ', '; true', '|| true')):
+        shell = True
+
     # CRITICAL: For mysql/mariadb commands, always use shell=True and full binary path
     # This fixes "No such file or directory: 'mysql'" when run via shlex.split
     if not shell and ('mysql' in command or 'mariadb' in command):
diff --git a/plogical/upgrade.py b/plogical/upgrade.py
index 5052e0c48..9a1ff2353 100644
--- a/plogical/upgrade.py
+++ b/plogical/upgrade.py
@@ -4299,6 +4299,19 @@ echo $oConfig->Save() ? 'Done' : 'Error';
         Upgrade.stdOut("Applying AlmaLinux 9 MariaDB fixes...", 1)
         
         try:
+            # CRITICAL: Remove MariaDB-server-compat* before any MariaDB install (conflicts with 10.11)
+            Upgrade.stdOut("Removing conflicting MariaDB-server-compat packages...", 1)
+            try:
+                subprocess.run("rpm -e --nodeps MariaDB-server-compat-12.1.2-1.el9.noarch 2>/dev/null; true", shell=True, timeout=30)
+                subprocess.run("dnf remove -y 'MariaDB-server-compat*' 2>/dev/null || true", shell=True, timeout=60)
+                r = subprocess.run("rpm -qa 2>/dev/null | grep -i MariaDB-server-compat", shell=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
+                for line in (r.stdout or "").strip().splitlines():
+                    pkg = (line.strip().split() or [""])[0]
+                    if pkg and "MariaDB-server-compat" in pkg:
+                        subprocess.run(["rpm", "-e", "--nodeps", pkg], timeout=30)
+            except Exception as e:
+                Upgrade.stdOut("Warning: compat cleanup: " + str(e), 0)
+
             # Disable problematic MariaDB MaxScale repository
             Upgrade.stdOut("Disabling problematic MariaDB MaxScale repository...", 1)
             command = "dnf config-manager --disable mariadb-maxscale 2>/dev/null || true"
@@ -4320,9 +4333,9 @@ echo $oConfig->Save() ? 'Done' : 'Error';
             command = "dnf clean all"
             subprocess.run(command, shell=True, capture_output=True)
             
-            # Install MariaDB from official repository
+            # Install MariaDB 10.11 from official repository (avoid 12.1 compat conflicts)
             Upgrade.stdOut("Setting up official MariaDB repository...", 1)
-            command = "curl -sS https://downloads.mariadb.com/MariaDB/mariadb_repo_setup | bash -s -- --mariadb-server-version='12.1'"
+            command = "curl -sS https://downloads.mariadb.com/MariaDB/mariadb_repo_setup | bash -s -- --mariadb-server-version='10.11'"
             result = subprocess.run(command, shell=True, capture_output=True, text=True)
             if result.returncode != 0:
                 Upgrade.stdOut(f"Warning: MariaDB repo setup failed: {result.stderr}", 0)