diff --git a/compiler/mesh-codegen/src/link.rs b/compiler/mesh-codegen/src/link.rs
index f5d3cae1..cfda8b92 100644
--- a/compiler/mesh-codegen/src/link.rs
+++ b/compiler/mesh-codegen/src/link.rs
@@ -200,6 +200,14 @@ pub(crate) fn link_with_plan(
 /// profiles. Prefers the profile matching the compiler's own build: a release
 /// `meshc` links the release runtime, a debug `meshc` links the debug runtime.
 fn find_mesh_rt(target: &LinkTarget) -> Result<PathBuf, String> {
+    // ENV override (highest priority)
+    if let Ok(path) = std::env::var("MESH_RT_PATH") {
+        let path = PathBuf::from(path);
+        if path.exists() {
+            return Ok(path);
+        }
+    }
+
     let profiles: &[&str] = if cfg!(debug_assertions) {
         &["debug", "release"]
     } else {
@@ -217,6 +225,49 @@ fn find_mesh_rt(target: &LinkTarget) -> Result<PathBuf, String> {
         }
     }
 
+    // NEW: fallback directories
+    let mut extra_dirs: Vec<PathBuf> = Vec::new();
+
+    // ~/.mesh/lib
+    if let Some(home) = std::env::var_os("HOME") {
+        extra_dirs.push(PathBuf::from(home).join(".mesh/lib"));
+    }
+
+    // current working directory
+    if let Ok(current) = std::env::current_dir() {
+        extra_dirs.push(current);
+    }
+
+    // directory of meshc binary
+    if let Ok(exe) = std::env::current_exe() {
+        if let Some(parent) = exe.parent() {
+            extra_dirs.push(parent.to_path_buf());
+        }
+    }
+
+    // search fallback dirs
+    for dir in extra_dirs {
+        // check profile-based structure
+        for profile in profiles {
+            let candidate = dir.join(profile).join(target.runtime_filename());
+
+            if candidate.exists() {
+                return Ok(candidate);
+            }
+
+            searched_paths.push(candidate);
+        }
+
+        // check direct file
+        let direct = dir.join(target.runtime_filename());
+        if direct.exists() {
+            return Ok(direct);
+        }
+
+        searched_paths.push(direct);
+    }
+
+    // error message (unchanged)
     let mut message = format!(
         "Could not locate Mesh runtime static library for target '{}'. Expected {}. Run `cargo build -p mesh-rt{}` first.",
         target.display_triple(),
diff --git a/website/package.json b/website/package.json
index 6b3d2fec..147d19ae 100644
--- a/website/package.json
+++ b/website/package.json
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     "dev": "vitepress dev docs",
     "build": "vitepress build docs",
     "preview": "vitepress preview docs",
-    "generate:og": "python3 scripts/generate-og-image.py"
+    "generate:og": "python3 scripts/generate-og-image.py || (echo Python is not installed. Please install it from https://www.python.org/downloads/ and try again. && exit 1)"
   },
   "keywords": [],
   "author": "",
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@
     "@types/node": "^25.2.3",
     "typescript": "^5.9.3"
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file