diff --git a/full-ai-cluster/usb-nixos-installer/nixos/installer/configuration.nix b/full-ai-cluster/usb-nixos-installer/nixos/installer/configuration.nix
index e209927c0d..7748cf644a 100644
--- a/full-ai-cluster/usb-nixos-installer/nixos/installer/configuration.nix
+++ b/full-ai-cluster/usb-nixos-installer/nixos/installer/configuration.nix
@@ -226,6 +226,21 @@
     wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
     after = [ "systemd-user-sessions.service" "NetworkManager.service" ];
     conflicts = [ "getty@tty1.service" ];
+    # B-0754 iteration-2 PATH fix: systemd services on NixOS get a
+    # minimal PATH by default (coreutils + findutils + grep + sed +
+    # systemd); bare commands (clear, nmtui, ping, etc.) outside that
+    # set failed with 'command not found' on first real-hardware run.
+    # NixOS systemd module already defines a default PATH at
+    # mkOptionDefault priority; use lib.mkForce to replace with the
+    # union that includes /run/current-system/sw/bin and
+    # /run/wrappers/bin so every tool in environment.systemPackages
+    # is reachable + setuid wrappers work. TERM=linux so any tput-
+    # based tools (curses TUIs like nmtui) get a sane terminal
+    # capability database without per-invocation setup.
+    environment = {
+      PATH = lib.mkForce "/run/current-system/sw/bin:/run/current-system/sw/sbin:/run/wrappers/bin";
+      TERM = "linux";
+    };
     serviceConfig = {
       Type = "idle";
       ExecStart = "/run/current-system/sw/bin/zeta-first-boot";
diff --git a/full-ai-cluster/usb-nixos-installer/zeta-first-boot.sh b/full-ai-cluster/usb-nixos-installer/zeta-first-boot.sh
index 652e6af20d..4cad931668 100644
--- a/full-ai-cluster/usb-nixos-installer/zeta-first-boot.sh
+++ b/full-ai-cluster/usb-nixos-installer/zeta-first-boot.sh
@@ -36,7 +36,11 @@ ROLE_PROMPT_SECS="${ROLE_PROMPT_SECS:-10}"
 # Defaults to whatever the ISO's /etc/zeta-firstboot.conf shipped with
 # (typically control-plane). Press 'c' or 'w' within ${ROLE_PROMPT_SECS}s
 # to choose; any other key (or timeout) keeps the default.
-clear || true
+# ANSI 'reset terminal' escape — no external `clear` dependency,
+# works on bare tty without requiring `ncurses` + a TERM that
+# tput recognises. Fixes B-0754 iteration-1 'clear: command not
+# found' from the systemd unit's minimal PATH.
+printf '\033c' || true
 cat <<EOF
 
   Zeta cluster installer — first boot
@@ -73,7 +77,11 @@ has_internet() {
   ping -c 1 -W 2 -q github.com >/dev/null 2>&1
 }
 
-clear || true
+# ANSI 'reset terminal' escape — no external `clear` dependency,
+# works on bare tty without requiring `ncurses` + a TERM that
+# tput recognises. Fixes B-0754 iteration-1 'clear: command not
+# found' from the systemd unit's minimal PATH.
+printf '\033c' || true
 cat <<EOF
 
   ╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
@@ -105,8 +113,14 @@ else
   read -n 1 -s -t 5 -p "  Press any key to launch nmtui (or wait 5s) ..." || true
   echo
   echo
-  # nmtui returns 0 on quit regardless of whether connection succeeded
-  if ! nmtui; then
+  # nmtui returns 0 on quit regardless of whether connection succeeded.
+  # Absolute path: defense-in-depth alongside the systemd unit's
+  # environment.PATH override (set in configuration.nix on
+  # systemd.services.zeta-first-boot.environment.PATH via lib.mkForce).
+  # Both defenses together fix B-0754 iteration-1 'nmtui: command not
+  # found' (nmtui IS installed in the ISO via networkmanager in
+  # systemPackages; the issue was PATH inheritance into the unit).
+  if ! /run/current-system/sw/bin/nmtui; then
     echo "[zeta-first-boot] nmtui failed."
     drop_to_shell
   fi