diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index a105d13..d581155 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -188,15 +188,14 @@
                       (builtins.filter (n: builtins.substring 0 12 n == "nvim_plugin-") (builtins.attrNames inputs));
                 });
 
-          # All runtime dependencies are now optional and checked at runtime by plugins
+          # All runtime dependencies are now optional and checked lazily by plugins
           # This keeps the neovim flake lean and allows project devShells to provide tools
-          # Core dependencies that neovim itself might need can still be added here
+          # Core dependencies that telescope needs are kept here
           runtimeDependencies = with pkgs; [
-            # Keeping ripgrep and fd as they're core to telescope functionality
-            ripgrep # search - used heavily by telescope
-            fd # file finding - used by telescope
+            ripgrep # search - core to telescope, checked in telescope.lua init
+            fd # file finding - improves telescope performance, checked in telescope.lua init
             # All other tools (LSPs, formatters, linters, glow, sshfs, etc.) are now optional
-            # and will show helpful errors when missing
+            # and will show helpful errors when missing at the point of use
           ];
 
         in
@@ -219,6 +218,7 @@
                   ++ [
                     # Add minimal runtime dependencies to neovim path
                     # Most tools are now optional and checked at runtime
+                    # Project devShells take precedence via --suffix
                     "--suffix"
                     "PATH"
                     ":"
diff --git a/lua/plugins/conform_formatter.lua b/lua/plugins/conform_formatter.lua
index d651548..bdd2cb7 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/conform_formatter.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/conform_formatter.lua
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ return {
 			--         args = { "fmt" },
 			-- },
 		},
-		-- Note that all these need to be available at runtime, add them to flake.nix#runtimeDependencies
+		-- Formatters are checked lazily on format attempt
+		-- conform.nvim will show errors if formatters are missing
 		formatters_by_ft = {
 			sql = { "sql_formatter", lsp_format = "first" },
 			lua = { "stylua", lsp_format = "first" },
diff --git a/lua/plugins/markdown_glow.lua b/lua/plugins/markdown_glow.lua
index ff7f8de..5572115 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/markdown_glow.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/markdown_glow.lua
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@ return {
     default_type = "keep",
   },
   cmd = "Glow",
+  config = function(_, opts)
+    -- Check for glow when plugin is first used
+    if not U.cmd_executable("glow") then
+      vim.notify(
+        "'glow' not found on PATH. Install it to use markdown preview.",
+        vim.log.levels.ERROR
+      )
+    end
+    require("glow").setup(opts)
+  end,
   keys = {
     { "<leader>,m", "<cmd>Glow<cr>", desc = "Markdown preview" },
   },
diff --git a/lua/plugins/remote-sshfs.lua b/lua/plugins/remote-sshfs.lua
index f0c288d..1ba6dd3 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/remote-sshfs.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/remote-sshfs.lua
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ return {
 	dependencies = { "nvim-telescope/telescope.nvim" },
 	opts = {},
 	config = function(_, opts)
+		-- Check for sshfs when plugin is first used
+		if not U.cmd_executable("sshfs") then
+			vim.notify(
+				"'sshfs' not found on PATH. Install it to use RemoteSSHFS commands.",
+				vim.log.levels.ERROR
+			)
+		end
 		require("remote-sshfs").setup(opts)
 		require("telescope").load_extension("remote-sshfs")
 	end,