diff --git a/scripts/setup.sh b/scripts/setup.sh
index 8241001..91870c7 100644
--- a/scripts/setup.sh
+++ b/scripts/setup.sh
@@ -197,9 +197,9 @@ else
   echo "Pre-built frontend detected. Skipping frontend build."
 fi
 
-# 4.3 Setup system service (only if systemd is running)
-# Note: in containerized environments (no systemd PID 1), systemctl will fail.
-if [ "$(cat /proc/1/comm 2>/dev/null)" = "systemd" ] && command -v systemctl > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+# 4.3 Setup system service (only if systemd is active)
+# Note: in non-systemd contexts (containers, chroots), systemctl will fail.
+if command -v systemctl > /dev/null 2>&1 && systemctl is-system-running --quiet 2>/dev/null; then
   cat <<EOF > /etc/systemd/system/mpvj-backend.service
 [Unit]
 Description=MPVJ Backend
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ EOF
   systemctl daemon-reload
   systemctl enable mpvj-backend.service
 else
-  echo "WARNING: systemd not detected (PID 1 is not systemd). Skipping systemd service setup."
+  echo "WARNING: systemd is not active/accessible. Skipping systemd service setup."
   echo "You can run the backend manually: node $REAL_HOME/mpvj/backend/index.js"
 fi