diff --git a/src/piper_control/piper_connect.py b/src/piper_control/piper_connect.py
index 61f11c2..74372d0 100644
--- a/src/piper_control/piper_connect.py
+++ b/src/piper_control/piper_connect.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from higher-level Python code.
 """
 
+import shutil
 import subprocess
 import time
 
@@ -99,13 +100,37 @@ def get_can_adapter_serial(can_port: str) -> str | None:
 
 
 def _check_dependencies() -> None:
+  # Detect package manager
+  def _pacman_query(pkg: str) -> list[str]:
+    return ["pacman", "-Q", pkg]
+
+  def _dpkg_query(pkg: str) -> list[str]:
+    return ["dpkg", "-s", pkg]
+
+  if shutil.which("pacman"):
+    query_cmd = _pacman_query
+    install_cmd = "sudo pacman -S"
+  elif shutil.which("dpkg"):
+    query_cmd = _dpkg_query
+    install_cmd = "sudo apt install"
+  else:
+    raise RuntimeError(
+        "Unsupported package manager. "
+        "Please ensure ethtool and can-utils are installed manually."
+    )
+
   for pkg in ["ethtool", "can-utils"]:
     try:
-      subprocess.run(["dpkg", "-s", pkg], check=True, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+      subprocess.run(
+          query_cmd(pkg),
+          check=True,
+          stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+          stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+      )
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as exc:
       raise RuntimeError(
-          f"Missing dependency: {pkg}. Please install with `sudo apt install "
-          f"{pkg}`."
+          f"Missing dependency: {pkg}. \
+                  Please install with `{install_cmd} {pkg}`."
       ) from exc