diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aef43d0591d..1e058880686 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -314,7 +314,9 @@ bash install.sh
 The installer ensures Node.js 20 or newer is available, installs a managed
 Paperclip CLI under `~/.paperclip/cli`, and starts interactive onboarding. It
 can also install Paperclip as a background service on supported Linux and
-macOS systems.
+macOS systems. The checksum detects transfer or publishing mistakes, but it is
+served from the same origin as the script; use a release-tag or commit-pinned
+GitHub copy when you need an independently hosted source.
 
 For a non-interactive managed install:
 
@@ -323,6 +325,11 @@ curl -fsSL https://paperclip.ing/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-prompt --no-onboar
 paperclipai onboard --yes
 ```
 
+The piped form requires supported Node.js, npm, and npx to already be present.
+If Node.js bootstrap is required, download and review `install.sh` before
+running it so no privileged dependency-install command is accepted through a
+pipe.
+
 To try Paperclip without installing anything permanently:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/doc/CLI.md b/doc/CLI.md
index 1898819c012..5b36f799589 100644
--- a/doc/CLI.md
+++ b/doc/CLI.md
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ fi
 bash install.sh
 ```
 
+The checksum detects transfer or publishing mistakes but is served from the
+same origin as the installer. Use a release-tag or commit-pinned GitHub copy
+when you need an independently hosted source. Piped installs require supported
+Node.js, npm, and npx to already be installed; download the script first before
+allowing it to bootstrap Node.js with privileged package-manager commands.
+
 First-time local bootstrap from a source checkout:
 
 ```sh
diff --git a/doc/INSTALLING.md b/doc/INSTALLING.md
index 1222e1cb3dc..791910daf1e 100644
--- a/doc/INSTALLING.md
+++ b/doc/INSTALLING.md
@@ -30,7 +30,15 @@ The bootstrap script:
 The script prints and confirms any command that requires elevated privileges.
 Third-party Node.js bootstrap scripts are pinned and SHA-256 verified before
 execution; the installer stops if a published script changes unexpectedly.
-Use `--no-prompt` for automation and `--no-onboard` to stop after installing:
+The `paperclip.ing` checksum detects transfer or publishing mistakes, but it is
+served from the same origin as the script and is not an independent
+authenticity proof. For an independently hosted source, download a release-tag
+or commit-pinned copy from GitHub, review it, and run that local file.
+
+Use `--no-prompt` for automation and `--no-onboard` to stop after installing.
+The piped form only proceeds when supported Node.js, npm, and npx are already
+installed; if Node.js bootstrap is required, download the script first so the
+privileged commands are inspectable before execution:
 
 ```sh
 curl -fsSL https://paperclip.ing/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-prompt --no-onboard
@@ -45,9 +53,10 @@ raw_base=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/paperclipai/paperclip
 curl -fsSL "$raw_base/master/scripts/install.sh" | bash
 ```
 
-For audits or incident response, pin the raw URL to a release tag or commit
-SHA instead of `master`, download it first, and compare it with the published
-checksum at `https://paperclip.ing/install.sh.sha256`.
+For audits or incident response, pin the raw URL to a release tag or commit SHA
+instead of `master` and download it first. That immutable GitHub URL provides a
+separate delivery path from `paperclip.ing`; do not treat a checksum served by
+the same origin as the artifact as an independent trust anchor.
 
 Each installer flag also has a `PAPERCLIP_INSTALL_*` environment-variable
 equivalent. This helps where passing arguments through a pipe is awkward.
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 0220ec22273..2eceb01031e 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ INSTALL_SERVICE=0
 DRY_RUN=0
 VERBOSE=0
 TEMP_DIR=""
+PIPED_INSTALL=0
+
+if [ -z "${BASH_SOURCE[0]:-}" ] || [ ! -f "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" ]; then
+  PIPED_INSTALL=1
+fi
 
 usage() {
   cat <<'EOF'
@@ -335,6 +340,9 @@ else
   else
     log "Node.js was not found"
   fi
+  if [ "$PIPED_INSTALL" = "1" ]; then
+    fail "Node.js bootstrap is disabled for piped installs; download install.sh, review it, and run 'bash install.sh --no-prompt'"
+  fi
   check_version_manager
   log "Installing Node.js $DEFAULT_NODE_MAJOR"
   if [ "$OS_NAME" = "macos" ]; then
diff --git a/scripts/test-install-sh-docker.sh b/scripts/test-install-sh-docker.sh
index 7b80b0233ad..741c138cf9f 100755
--- a/scripts/test-install-sh-docker.sh
+++ b/scripts/test-install-sh-docker.sh
@@ -111,6 +111,18 @@ echo "==> piped --no-prompt"
 run_with_node piped bash -c 'cat /paperclip-scripts/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-prompt --no-onboard'
 assert_line "$RESULTS_DIR/piped.args" "--yes"
 
+echo "==> piped mode refuses privileged Node bootstrap"
+if docker run --rm \
+  -v "$REPO_ROOT/scripts:/paperclip-scripts:ro" \
+  -e PATH="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin" \
+  ubuntu:24.04 \
+  bash -c 'cat /paperclip-scripts/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-prompt --no-onboard' \
+  >"$RESULTS_DIR/piped-no-node.out" 2>&1; then
+  echo "Expected piped install without Node.js to fail before privileged bootstrap" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+assert_line "$RESULTS_DIR/piped-no-node.out" "[paperclip] error: Node.js bootstrap is disabled for piped installs; download install.sh, review it, and run 'bash install.sh --no-prompt'"
+
 echo "==> dry run"
 run_with_node dry-run bash /paperclip-scripts/install.sh --no-prompt --dry-run --no-onboard
 [ ! -e "$RESULTS_DIR/dry-run.args" ] || {