diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index 2887c49..56d7aa1 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ path                    = "src/main.rs"
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_client"
-version                 = "0.11.27"
+version                 = "0.11.28"
 edition                 = "2024"
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index 3067c98..b40b303 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_common"
-version                 = "0.11.27"
+version                 = "0.11.28"
 edition                 = "2024"
 build                   = "build.rs"
 
diff --git a/common/src/cli.rs b/common/src/cli.rs
index 2b09a41..f12c38c 100644
--- a/common/src/cli.rs
+++ b/common/src/cli.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn banner_includes_version() {
-        assert_eq!(banner("0.11.27"), "lesavka-common CLI (v0.11.27)");
+        assert_eq!(banner("0.11.28"), "lesavka-common CLI (v0.11.28)");
     }
 }
diff --git a/scripts/install/client.sh b/scripts/install/client.sh
index 3c8f90d..56fc2e8 100755
--- a/scripts/install/client.sh
+++ b/scripts/install/client.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,23 @@ log() {
   printf '==> %s\n' "$*"
 }
 
+installed_kernel_module_trees() {
+  local roots=(/usr/lib/modules /lib/modules)
+  local seen=()
+  local root entry
+  for root in "${roots[@]}"; do
+    [[ -d $root ]] || continue
+    for entry in "$root"/*; do
+      [[ -d $entry ]] || continue
+      seen+=("$(basename "$entry")")
+    done
+  done
+  if [[ ${#seen[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+  printf '%s\n' "${seen[@]}" | awk '!seen[$0]++'
+}
+
 require_command() {
   local cmd=$1
   local pkg_hint=$2
@@ -51,10 +68,23 @@ require_kernel_module() {
   if modinfo "$module" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     return 0
   fi
+  local running_kernel
+  running_kernel=$(uname -r)
+  mapfile -t module_trees < <(installed_kernel_module_trees)
   echo "❌ required kernel module '$module' is unavailable for the running kernel $(uname -r)." >&2
   echo "   Lesavka needs it for $why." >&2
-  echo "   This usually means the machine booted an older kernel than the modules that are currently installed." >&2
-  echo "   Reboot into the freshly installed kernel, then rerun the installer." >&2
+  if [[ ${#module_trees[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+    echo "   No kernel module trees are currently installed under /usr/lib/modules or /lib/modules." >&2
+  else
+    echo "   Installed kernel module trees: ${module_trees[*]}" >&2
+    if [[ ! " ${module_trees[*]} " =~ [[:space:]]${running_kernel}[[:space:]] ]]; then
+      echo "   The machine is booted into an older kernel than the modules that are currently installed." >&2
+      echo "   Reboot into one of the installed kernels above, then rerun the installer." >&2
+    else
+      echo "   The current kernel tree exists, but modinfo still cannot resolve '$module'." >&2
+      echo "   Verify the kernel package and headers are healthy, then rerun the installer." >&2
+    fi
+  fi
   exit 1
 }
 
@@ -121,11 +151,6 @@ require_linkable "$(command -v protoc)" "protoc"
 if [[ -e /usr/lib/libclang.so ]]; then
   require_linkable /usr/lib/libclang.so "libclang"
 fi
-if [[ ! -d /lib/modules/$(uname -r) ]]; then
-  echo "❌ no kernel module tree exists for the running kernel $(uname -r)." >&2
-  echo "   Reboot into the freshly installed kernel, then rerun the installer." >&2
-  exit 1
-fi
 require_kernel_module snd_usb_audio "USB microphones and USB headsets"
 require_gst_element pulsesrc
 require_gst_element pulsesink
diff --git a/server/Cargo.toml b/server/Cargo.toml
index f94f2cd..083fcfc 100644
--- a/server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/server/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ bench                   = false
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_server"
-version                 = "0.11.27"
+version                 = "0.11.28"
 edition                 = "2024"
 autobins                = false