diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index b635c9b..d54d062 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -197,6 +197,10 @@ def main() -> None:
         action="store_true",
         help="Execute real orders (default is paper trading)",
     )
+    # Always work relative to the script's own directory so that bot.log and
+    # positions.json land in /opt/crypto-trader regardless of the caller's cwd.
+    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     config = Config()
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 4ffcf9b..ecfdbbc 100644
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ fi
 echo "Ensuring python3-venv and pip are available..."
 apt-get install -y python3-venv python3-pip
 
-if [ ! -d "$INSTALL_DIR/venv" ]; then
+# Check for pip specifically — a previous failed run may have left an incomplete venv
+if [ ! -f "$INSTALL_DIR/venv/bin/pip" ]; then
+  rm -rf "$INSTALL_DIR/venv"
   python3 -m venv "$INSTALL_DIR/venv" || {
     echo "ERROR: 'python3 -m venv' failed. Try: apt-get install python3-venv"
     exit 1