diff --git a/lib/towerops/profiles/profile_watcher.ex b/lib/towerops/profiles/profile_watcher.ex
index a0308c20..32b2a8a3 100644
--- a/lib/towerops/profiles/profile_watcher.ex
+++ b/lib/towerops/profiles/profile_watcher.ex
@@ -29,12 +29,17 @@ defmodule Towerops.Profiles.ProfileWatcher do
       profiles_path = Path.join(Application.app_dir(:towerops), @profiles_dir)
 
       # Start watching the profiles directory for changes (using apply to avoid compile-time warnings)
-      {:ok, watcher_pid} = apply(FileSystem, :start_link, [[dirs: [profiles_path]]])
-      apply(FileSystem, :subscribe, [watcher_pid])
+      case apply(FileSystem, :start_link, [[dirs: [profiles_path]]]) do
+        {:ok, watcher_pid} ->
+          apply(FileSystem, :subscribe, [watcher_pid])
+          Logger.info("ProfileWatcher: Started watching #{profiles_path}")
+          {:ok, %{watcher_pid: watcher_pid, profiles_path: profiles_path}}
 
-      Logger.info("ProfileWatcher: Started watching #{profiles_path}")
-
-      {:ok, %{watcher_pid: watcher_pid, profiles_path: profiles_path}}
+        :ignore ->
+          # inotify-tools not available (e.g., in CI)
+          Logger.debug("ProfileWatcher: FileSystem watcher not available, running in no-op mode")
+          {:ok, %{}}
+      end
     else
       # In production, FileSystem is not available
       Logger.debug("ProfileWatcher: FileSystem not available, running in no-op mode (dev-only feature)")