diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0b0abef..c6334ca 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ setup afterward:
 ~~~bash
 bash ~/.local/share/jarvis-qvac/packaging/first-run.sh
 gnome-extensions enable jarvis@qvac.local
+
+If GNOME says the extension does not exist immediately after installation, log
+out and back in once. GNOME Shell only refreshes its user extension catalogue
+at session startup; the installer persists the enabled state for that login.
 ~~~
 
 The rolling installer first downloads a self-contained architecture bundle
diff --git a/packaging/build-extension.sh b/packaging/build-extension.sh
index c9b4488..f18628e 100755
--- a/packaging/build-extension.sh
+++ b/packaging/build-extension.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ rm -f "${OUT_DIR}/jarvis-qvac-extension.zip"
 if command -v glib-compile-schemas >/dev/null; then
   glib-compile-schemas "${ROOT_DIR}/apps/gnome-extension/jarvis@qvac.local/schemas" >/dev/null
 fi
-( cd "${ROOT_DIR}/apps/gnome-extension" && zip -q -r "${OUT_DIR}/jarvis-qvac-extension.zip" "jarvis@qvac.local" -x '*/__pycache__/*' -x '*.pyc' )
+# GNOME's installer expects metadata.json at the archive root. The UUID is
+# taken from metadata.json and becomes the on-disk extension directory.
+( cd "${ROOT_DIR}/apps/gnome-extension/jarvis@qvac.local" && zip -q -r "${OUT_DIR}/jarvis-qvac-extension.zip" . -x '*/__pycache__/*' -x '*.pyc' )
 test -s "${OUT_DIR}/jarvis-qvac-extension.zip"
 echo "${OUT_DIR}/jarvis-qvac-extension.zip"
diff --git a/packaging/install.sh b/packaging/install.sh
index a9fa1a5..8cdd29c 100755
--- a/packaging/install.sh
+++ b/packaging/install.sh
@@ -23,15 +23,18 @@ if [[ -z "${BARE_BIN}" || ! -x "${BARE_BIN}" ]]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 chmod 755 "${BARE_BIN}"
-rm -rf "${EXT_DIR}"
-mkdir -p "${EXT_DIR}"
 EXT_TMP_DIR="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/jarvis-extension.XXXXXX")"
 EXT_ZIP="${EXT_TMP_DIR}/jarvis-extension.zip"
 cleanup_ext() { rm -rf "${EXT_TMP_DIR}"; }
 trap cleanup_ext EXIT
-( cd "${ROOT_DIR}/apps/gnome-extension" && zip -q -r "${EXT_ZIP}" "jarvis@qvac.local" )
-if command -v gnome-extensions >/dev/null && gnome-extensions install --force "${EXT_ZIP}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  :
+( cd "${ROOT_DIR}/apps/gnome-extension/jarvis@qvac.local" && zip -q -r "${EXT_ZIP}" . )
+rm -rf "${EXT_DIR}"
+mkdir -p "${EXT_DIR}"
+if command -v gnome-extensions >/dev/null; then
+  if ! gnome-extensions install --force "${EXT_ZIP}"; then
+    echo "GNOME extension registration failed; installing the files directly." >&2
+    cp -a "${ROOT_DIR}/apps/gnome-extension/jarvis@qvac.local/." "${EXT_DIR}/"
+  fi
 else
   cp -a "${ROOT_DIR}/apps/gnome-extension/jarvis@qvac.local/." "${EXT_DIR}/"
 fi
@@ -46,6 +49,24 @@ if [[ "${1:-}" == "--enable" ]]; then
   systemctl --user daemon-reload
   systemctl --user enable jarvisd.service
   systemctl --user restart jarvisd.service
+  if command -v gnome-extensions >/dev/null && gnome-extensions enable jarvis@qvac.local >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "GNOME extension enabled."
+  elif command -v gsettings >/dev/null && gsettings writable org.gnome.shell enabled-extensions >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    # A running GNOME Shell keeps its extension catalogue until the next
+    # session. Persist the enabled state so the extension starts on login.
+    ENABLED_EXTENSIONS="$(gsettings get org.gnome.shell enabled-extensions 2>/dev/null || printf '[]')"
+    if [[ "${ENABLED_EXTENSIONS}" != *"jarvis@qvac.local"* ]]; then
+      if [[ "${ENABLED_EXTENSIONS}" == "[]" ]]; then
+        ENABLED_EXTENSIONS="['jarvis@qvac.local']"
+      else
+        ENABLED_EXTENSIONS="${ENABLED_EXTENSIONS%]}, 'jarvis@qvac.local']"
+      fi
+      gsettings set org.gnome.shell enabled-extensions "${ENABLED_EXTENSIONS}"
+    fi
+    echo "GNOME Shell will enable Jarvis after the next login (the current Shell session has not rescanned extensions)."
+  else
+    echo "GNOME Shell has not rescanned extensions; log out and back in, then run: gnome-extensions enable jarvis@qvac.local"
+  fi
 fi
 echo "Installed JARVIS-QVAC to ${APP_DIR}"
 echo "Run: ${APP_DIR}/packaging/first-run.sh"