diff --git a/cli/src/__tests__/install-command.test.ts b/cli/src/__tests__/install-command.test.ts
index a266b4f0e78..38845fe5473 100644
--- a/cli/src/__tests__/install-command.test.ts
+++ b/cli/src/__tests__/install-command.test.ts
@@ -107,6 +107,33 @@ describe("managed install commands", () => {
     expect(fs.readFileSync(userData, "utf8")).toBe("keep");
   });
 
+  it("preserves the managed install when an existing systemd unit cannot be checked", async () => {
+    const paths = resolveInstallStorePaths();
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(paths.shimPath), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(paths.shimPath, "managed shim");
+    const unitPath = path.join(
+      process.env.HOME!,
+      ".config",
+      "systemd",
+      "user",
+      "paperclipai.service",
+    );
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(unitPath), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(unitPath, "unit");
+
+    await expect(uninstallCommand({
+      detectServiceManager: vi.fn(async () => ({
+        supported: false as const,
+        reason: "No usable systemd user manager was detected",
+      })),
+      platform: "linux",
+      userHomeDir: process.env.HOME!,
+    })).rejects.toThrow("Cannot verify or remove the background service");
+
+    expect(fs.existsSync(paths.shimPath)).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(unitPath)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("rejects a symlinked installs root before npm writes outside the store", async () => {
     const paths = resolveInstallStorePaths();
     const outside = path.join(root, "outside");
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/uninstall.ts b/cli/src/commands/uninstall.ts
index 992af2cb584..1c2764afc7f 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/uninstall.ts
+++ b/cli/src/commands/uninstall.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import fs from "node:fs";
+import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 import pc from "picocolors";
 import {
@@ -9,17 +10,36 @@ import {
   withInstallStoreLock,
 } from "../install-store.js";
 import { resolvePaperclipInstanceId } from "../config/home.js";
-import { detectServiceManager } from "../services/service-manager.js";
+import { detectServiceManager, systemdServiceName } from "../services/service-manager.js";
 
 type UninstallDependencies = {
   detectServiceManager: typeof detectServiceManager;
+  platform: NodeJS.Platform;
+  userHomeDir: string;
 };
 
 export async function uninstallCommand(
   dependencies: Partial<UninstallDependencies> = {},
 ): Promise<void> {
+  const instanceId = resolvePaperclipInstanceId();
   const detect = dependencies.detectServiceManager ?? detectServiceManager;
-  const detection = await detect({ instanceId: resolvePaperclipInstanceId() });
+  const platform = dependencies.platform ?? process.platform;
+  const userHomeDir = dependencies.userHomeDir ?? os.homedir();
+  const detection = await detect({ instanceId, platform });
+  if (!detection.supported && platform === "linux") {
+    const definitionPath = path.join(
+      userHomeDir,
+      ".config",
+      "systemd",
+      "user",
+      systemdServiceName(instanceId),
+    );
+    if (fs.existsSync(definitionPath)) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Cannot verify or remove the background service: ${detection.reason}. Retry when the service manager is available.`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
   if (detection.supported) {
     const status = await detection.manager.status();
     if (status.installed || status.active) await detection.manager.uninstall();