diff --git a/deploy-production.sh b/deploy-production.sh
index 2324f48..34ef61e 100755
--- a/deploy-production.sh
+++ b/deploy-production.sh
@@ -102,6 +102,18 @@ install_dependencies_if_needed() {
   printf '%s\n' "$current_lock_hash" > "$lock_hash_file"
 }
 
+install_playwright_browser() {
+  if [ ! -d "node_modules/playwright" ]; then
+    echo "   Playwright ist nicht installiert; Browser-Installation wird übersprungen"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  # Muss mit demselben Benutzer laufen, der später den PM2-Prozess startet;
+  # Playwright legt den Browser im benutzerspezifischen Cache ab.
+  echo "   Installing/verifying Playwright Chromium browser..."
+  npx playwright install chromium
+}
+
 use_project_node() {
   export NVM_DIR="${NVM_DIR:-$HOME/.nvm}"
   if [ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ]; then
@@ -278,6 +290,7 @@ echo "3. Installing dependencies..."
 use_project_node
 ensure_node_version
 install_dependencies_if_needed
+install_playwright_browser
 
 # 4. Stop running apps before replacing build artifacts
 echo ""
diff --git a/deploy-test.sh b/deploy-test.sh
index 307ec60..e6da5f5 100755
--- a/deploy-test.sh
+++ b/deploy-test.sh
@@ -115,6 +115,18 @@ install_dependencies_if_needed() {
   printf '%s\n' "$current_lock_hash" > "$lock_hash_file"
 }
 
+install_playwright_browser() {
+  if [ ! -d "node_modules/playwright" ]; then
+    echo "   Playwright ist nicht installiert; Browser-Installation wird übersprungen"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  # Muss mit demselben Benutzer laufen, der später den PM2-Prozess startet;
+  # Playwright legt den Browser im benutzerspezifischen Cache ab.
+  echo "   Installing/verifying Playwright Chromium browser..."
+  npx playwright install chromium
+}
+
 use_project_node() {
   export NVM_DIR="${NVM_DIR:-$HOME/.nvm}"
   if [ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ]; then
@@ -284,6 +296,7 @@ echo "3. Installing dependencies..."
 use_project_node
 ensure_node_version
 install_dependencies_if_needed
+install_playwright_browser
 
 # 4. Stop running app before replacing build artifacts
 echo ""