diff --git a/backend/src/utilities/ndpi_classifier.py b/backend/src/utilities/ndpi_classifier.py
index f161058..e90c6c7 100644
--- a/backend/src/utilities/ndpi_classifier.py
+++ b/backend/src/utilities/ndpi_classifier.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ This module keeps nDPI integration optional:
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import logging
+import importlib
 import time
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Tuple
@@ -16,10 +17,14 @@ from scapy.all import IP, IPv6, TCP, UDP  # type: ignore
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("ndpi_classifier")
 
-try:
-    import ndpi  # type: ignore
-except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - optional dependency
-    ndpi = None
+ndpi = None  # type: ignore
+_ndpi_import_error: Optional[str] = None
+for _module_name in ("ndpi", "pyndpi"):
+    try:  # pragma: no cover - import depends on host runtime
+        ndpi = importlib.import_module(_module_name)  # type: ignore
+        break
+    except Exception as exc:
+        _ndpi_import_error = f"{_module_name}: {exc!r}"
 
 
 def _is_jsonable_scalar(value: Any) -> bool:
@@ -63,13 +68,21 @@ class NDPIClassifier:
         self._initialized = True
 
         if ndpi is None:
-            logger.warning("nDPI Python bindings not installed; DPI enrichment disabled")
+            logger.warning(
+                "nDPI Python bindings unavailable; DPI enrichment disabled (%s)",
+                _ndpi_import_error or "no ndpi module found",
+            )
             return
 
         try:
             engine_cls = getattr(ndpi, "NDPI", None)
             if engine_cls is None:
-                logger.warning("nDPI bindings found but NDPI class missing; DPI enrichment disabled")
+                exported = [name for name in dir(ndpi) if name.lower().startswith("ndpi")]
+                logger.warning(
+                    "nDPI bindings imported but NDPI class missing (module=%s, ndpi* exports=%s); DPI enrichment disabled",
+                    getattr(ndpi, "__name__", "unknown"),
+                    exported[:20],
+                )
                 return
             self._engine = engine_cls()
             logger.info("nDPI classifier initialized")
diff --git a/setup_build_server.sh b/setup_build_server.sh
index 2adeb73..93fde5e 100755
--- a/setup_build_server.sh
+++ b/setup_build_server.sh
@@ -88,6 +88,25 @@ if [ -d "/tmp/nDPI/python" ]; then
     pip install "setuptools<81" "packaging<25" wheel
     if ! pip install --no-build-isolation /tmp/nDPI/python; then
         echo "==> WARNING: nDPI Python bindings install failed, backend will run without DPI enrichment"
+    else
+        if python - <<'PY'
+import importlib
+mods = []
+for name in ("ndpi", "pyndpi"):
+    try:
+        m = importlib.import_module(name)
+        mods.append((name, getattr(m, "__file__", "unknown")))
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+if not mods:
+    raise SystemExit(1)
+print("nDPI Python modules:", mods)
+PY
+        then
+            echo "==> nDPI Python import check passed"
+        else
+            echo "==> WARNING: nDPI installed but import failed in backend venv"
+        fi
     fi
 fi
 
@@ -234,6 +253,18 @@ if [ -d "/tmp/nDPI/python" ]; then
     pip install "setuptools<81" "packaging<25" wheel
     if ! pip install --no-build-isolation /tmp/nDPI/python; then
         echo "WARNING: nDPI Python bindings install failed during runner build"
+    else
+        python - <<'PY' || echo "WARNING: nDPI import check failed during runner build"
+import importlib
+for name in ("ndpi", "pyndpi"):
+    try:
+        m = importlib.import_module(name)
+        print("nDPI import OK:", name, getattr(m, "__file__", "unknown"))
+        raise SystemExit(0)
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+raise SystemExit(1)
+PY
     fi
 fi
 pip install -r requirements.txt