diff --git a/scripts/linux-setup_docker.sh b/scripts/linux-setup_docker.sh
index 851e5af..016043a 100755
--- a/scripts/linux-setup_docker.sh
+++ b/scripts/linux-setup_docker.sh
@@ -59,8 +59,17 @@ echo "Configuring Docker permissions..."
 sudo groupadd docker 2>/dev/null || true
 sudo usermod -aG docker ${SUDO_USER:-$USER}
 
-echo "Enabling and starting Docker services..."
-sudo systemctl enable --now docker.service
-sudo systemctl enable --now containerd.service
+# Check if we're running in a systemd environment
+echo "Checking for systemd..."
+if pidof systemd > /dev/null && [ -d /run/systemd/system ]; then
+    echo "systemd detected - enabling and starting Docker services using systemctl..."
+    sudo systemctl enable --now docker.service
+    sudo systemctl enable --now containerd.service
+else
+    echo "systemd not detected (likely in a container) - starting Docker daemon directly..."
+    # For containers or non-systemd environments, we can just start the Docker daemon directly
+    sudo dockerd > /dev/null 2>&1 &
+    echo "Docker daemon started in background."
+fi
 
 echo "Docker setup completed. Please log out and log back in for group changes to take effect."