diff --git a/scripts/qemu_swarm.py b/scripts/qemu_swarm.py
index 9cdc2883..2747eac1 100644
--- a/scripts/qemu_swarm.py
+++ b/scripts/qemu_swarm.py
@@ -326,7 +326,12 @@ class NetworkState:
 
 
 def _run_ip(args: List[str], check: bool = False) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
-    return subprocess.run(["ip"] + args, capture_output=True, text=True, check=check)
+    try:
+        return subprocess.run(["ip"] + args, capture_output=True, text=True, check=check)
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        # 'ip' command not installed (e.g. minimal container image)
+        return subprocess.CompletedProcess(args=["ip"] + args, returncode=127,
+                                           stdout="", stderr="ip: command not found")
 
 
 def setup_network(cfg: SwarmConfig, net: NetworkState) -> Dict[int, List[str]]:
@@ -338,8 +343,10 @@ def setup_network(cfg: SwarmConfig, net: NetworkState) -> Dict[int, List[str]]:
     node_net_args: Dict[int, List[str]] = {}
     n = len(cfg.nodes)
 
-    # Check if we can use TAP/bridge (requires root on Linux)
-    can_tap = IS_LINUX and hasattr(os, 'geteuid') and os.geteuid() == 0
+    # Check if we can use TAP/bridge (requires root on Linux + ip command)
+    import shutil
+    can_tap = (IS_LINUX and hasattr(os, 'geteuid') and os.geteuid() == 0
+               and shutil.which("ip") is not None)
 
     if not can_tap:
         if IS_LINUX: