diff --git a/misc/build.func b/misc/build.func
index 07185244f..6b372b9a9 100644
--- a/misc/build.func
+++ b/misc/build.func
@@ -5552,6 +5552,8 @@ ensure_log_on_host() {
 # - Exit trap handler for reporting to API telemetry
 # - Captures exit code and reports to PocketBase using centralized error descriptions
 # - Uses explain_exit_code() from api.func for consistent error messages
+# - For signal exits (>128): sends telemetry FIRST before log collection
+#   to prevent pct pull hangs from blocking status updates
 # - For non-zero exit codes: posts "failed" status
 # - For zero exit codes where post_update_to_api was never called:
 #   catches orphaned "installing" records (e.g., script exited cleanly
@@ -5560,8 +5562,15 @@ ensure_log_on_host() {
 api_exit_script() {
   local exit_code=$?
   if [ $exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
-    ensure_log_on_host
-    post_update_to_api "failed" "$exit_code"
+    if [ $exit_code -gt 128 ]; then
+      # Signal exit: send telemetry IMMEDIATELY (container may be dying)
+      post_update_to_api "failed" "$exit_code" 2>/dev/null || true
+      ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true
+    else
+      # Normal error: collect logs first for better error details
+      ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true
+      post_update_to_api "failed" "$exit_code"
+    fi
   elif [[ "${POST_TO_API_DONE:-}" == "true" && "${POST_UPDATE_DONE:-}" != "true" ]]; then
     # Script exited with 0 but never sent a completion status
     # exit_code=0 is never an error — report as success
@@ -5572,7 +5581,7 @@ api_exit_script() {
 if command -v pveversion >/dev/null 2>&1; then
   trap 'api_exit_script' EXIT
 fi
-trap 'local _ec=$?; if [[ $_ec -ne 0 ]]; then ensure_log_on_host; post_update_to_api "failed" "$_ec"; fi' ERR
-trap 'ensure_log_on_host; post_update_to_api "failed" "129"; exit 129' SIGHUP
-trap 'ensure_log_on_host; post_update_to_api "failed" "130"; exit 130' SIGINT
-trap 'ensure_log_on_host; post_update_to_api "failed" "143"; exit 143' SIGTERM
+trap 'local _ec=$?; if [[ $_ec -ne 0 ]]; then ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true; post_update_to_api "failed" "$_ec"; fi' ERR
+trap 'post_update_to_api "failed" "129" 2>/dev/null || true; ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true; exit 129' SIGHUP
+trap 'post_update_to_api "failed" "130" 2>/dev/null || true; ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true; exit 130' SIGINT
+trap 'post_update_to_api "failed" "143" 2>/dev/null || true; ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true; exit 143' SIGTERM
diff --git a/misc/error_handler.func b/misc/error_handler.func
index febd28c3b..d3dbde80a 100644
--- a/misc/error_handler.func
+++ b/misc/error_handler.func
@@ -329,6 +329,8 @@ error_handler() {
 # - Cleans up lock files if lockfile variable is set
 # - Exits with captured exit code
 # - Always runs on script termination (success or failure)
+# - For signal exits (>128): sends telemetry FIRST before log collection
+#   to prevent pct pull hangs from blocking status updates
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 on_exit() {
   local exit_code=$?
@@ -337,14 +339,24 @@ on_exit() {
   # post_to_api was called ("installing" sent) but post_update_to_api was never called
   if [[ "${POST_TO_API_DONE:-}" == "true" && "${POST_UPDATE_DONE:-}" != "true" ]]; then
     if declare -f post_update_to_api >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      # Ensure log is accessible on host before reporting
-      if declare -f ensure_log_on_host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        ensure_log_on_host
-      fi
-      if [[ $exit_code -ne 0 ]]; then
-        post_update_to_api "failed" "$exit_code"
+      if [[ $exit_code -gt 128 ]]; then
+        # Signal exit: send telemetry IMMEDIATELY (container may be dying, pct pull could hang)
+        post_update_to_api "failed" "$exit_code" 2>/dev/null || true
+        # Then try log collection (non-critical, best-effort)
+        if declare -f ensure_log_on_host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+          ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true
+        fi
       else
-        post_update_to_api "failed" "1"
+        # Normal exit: collect logs first for better error details
+        if declare -f ensure_log_on_host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+          ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true
+        fi
+        if [[ $exit_code -ne 0 ]]; then
+          post_update_to_api "failed" "$exit_code"
+        else
+          # exit_code=0 is never an error — report as success
+          post_update_to_api "done" "0"
+        fi
       fi
     fi
   fi
@@ -356,22 +368,26 @@ on_exit() {
 # on_interrupt()
 #
 # - SIGINT (Ctrl+C) trap handler
+# - Reports to telemetry FIRST (time-critical: container may be dying)
 # - Displays "Interrupted by user" message
 # - Exits with code 130 (128 + SIGINT=2)
+# - Output redirected to /dev/null fallback to prevent SIGPIPE on closed terminals
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 on_interrupt() {
-  # Ensure log is accessible on host before reporting
-  if declare -f ensure_log_on_host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    ensure_log_on_host
-  fi
-  # Report interruption to telemetry API (prevents stuck "installing" records)
+  # CRITICAL: Send telemetry FIRST before any cleanup or output
+  # If ensure_log_on_host hangs (e.g. pct pull on dying container),
+  # the status update would never be sent, leaving records stuck in "installing"
   if declare -f post_update_to_api >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    post_update_to_api "failed" "130"
+    post_update_to_api "failed" "130" 2>/dev/null || true
+  fi
+  # Best-effort log collection (non-critical after telemetry is sent)
+  if declare -f ensure_log_on_host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true
   fi
   if declare -f msg_error >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    msg_error "Interrupted by user (SIGINT)"
+    msg_error "Interrupted by user (SIGINT)" 2>/dev/null || true
   else
-    echo -e "\n${RD}Interrupted by user (SIGINT)${CL}"
+    echo -e "\n${RD}Interrupted by user (SIGINT)${CL}" 2>/dev/null || true
   fi
   exit 130
 }
@@ -380,23 +396,27 @@ on_interrupt() {
 # on_terminate()
 #
 # - SIGTERM trap handler
+# - Reports to telemetry FIRST (time-critical: process being killed)
 # - Displays "Terminated by signal" message
 # - Exits with code 143 (128 + SIGTERM=15)
 # - Triggered by external process termination
+# - Output redirected to /dev/null fallback to prevent SIGPIPE on closed terminals
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 on_terminate() {
-  # Ensure log is accessible on host before reporting
-  if declare -f ensure_log_on_host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    ensure_log_on_host
-  fi
-  # Report termination to telemetry API (prevents stuck "installing" records)
+  # CRITICAL: Send telemetry FIRST before any cleanup or output
+  # Same rationale as on_interrupt: ensure status gets reported even if
+  # ensure_log_on_host hangs or terminal is already closed
   if declare -f post_update_to_api >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    post_update_to_api "failed" "143"
+    post_update_to_api "failed" "143" 2>/dev/null || true
+  fi
+  # Best-effort log collection (non-critical after telemetry is sent)
+  if declare -f ensure_log_on_host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    ensure_log_on_host 2>/dev/null || true
   fi
   if declare -f msg_error >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    msg_error "Terminated by signal (SIGTERM)"
+    msg_error "Terminated by signal (SIGTERM)" 2>/dev/null || true
   else
-    echo -e "\n${RD}Terminated by signal (SIGTERM)${CL}"
+    echo -e "\n${RD}Terminated by signal (SIGTERM)${CL}" 2>/dev/null || true
   fi
   exit 143
 }