diff --git a/lua/cp/scraper.lua b/lua/cp/scraper.lua
index d2613cf..21cd697 100644
--- a/lua/cp/scraper.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/scraper.lua
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@ end
 ---@param args string[]
 ---@param opts { sync?: boolean, ndjson?: boolean, on_event?: fun(ev: table), on_exit?: fun(result: table) }
 local function run_scraper(platform, subcommand, args, opts)
+  if not utils.setup_python_env() then
+    local msg = 'no Python environment available (install uv or nix)'
+    logger.log(msg, vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    if opts and opts.on_exit then
+      opts.on_exit({ success = false, error = msg })
+    end
+    return { success = false, error = msg }
+  end
+
   local plugin_path = utils.get_plugin_path()
   local cmd = utils.get_python_cmd(platform, plugin_path)
   vim.list_extend(cmd, { subcommand })
diff --git a/lua/cp/utils.lua b/lua/cp/utils.lua
index 05a715d..b120a6f 100644
--- a/lua/cp/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/utils.lua
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ local function discover_nix_python()
   end
 
   local plugin_path = M.get_plugin_path()
-  logger.log('Building Python environment with nix...', nil, true)
+  vim.notify('[cp.nvim] Building Python environment with nix...', vim.log.levels.INFO)
+  vim.cmd.redraw()
   local result = vim
     .system(
       { 'nix', 'build', plugin_path .. '#pythonEnv', '--no-link', '--print-out-paths' },
@@ -177,6 +178,8 @@ function M.setup_python_env()
   if vim.fn.executable('uv') == 1 then
     local plugin_path = M.get_plugin_path()
     logger.log('Python env: uv sync (dir=' .. plugin_path .. ')')
+    vim.notify('[cp.nvim] Setting up Python environment...', vim.log.levels.INFO)
+    vim.cmd.redraw()
 
     local env = vim.fn.environ()
     env.VIRTUAL_ENV = ''
@@ -264,10 +267,6 @@ function M.check_required_runtime()
     return false, timeout.reason
   end
 
-  if not M.setup_python_env() then
-    return false, 'no Python environment available (install uv or nix)'
-  end
-
   return true
 end