diff --git a/scripts/stack_installers/install_rtorrent.py b/scripts/stack_installers/install_rtorrent.py
index cda9e9a..fa9d405 100755
--- a/scripts/stack_installers/install_rtorrent.py
+++ b/scripts/stack_installers/install_rtorrent.py
@@ -534,8 +534,7 @@ def build_rtorrent(base_dir, rtorrent_ref, libtorrent_install, rpc_backend, xmlr
             env["CFLAGS"] = f"{tinyxml2_cflags} " + env.get("CFLAGS", "")
 
         if tinyxml2_libs:
-            env["LIBS"] = f"{tinyxml2_libs} " + env.get("LIBS", "")
-            env["LDFLAGS"] = f"{tinyxml2_libs} " + env.get("LDFLAGS", "")
+            env["LIBS"] = f"-Wl,--no-as-needed {tinyxml2_libs} -Wl,--as-needed " + env.get("LIBS", "")
 
     with Spinner("Preparing rTorrent build system", enabled=not debug):
         run(["autoreconf", "-i"], cwd=str(source_dir), env=env, debug=debug)
@@ -657,7 +656,11 @@ def rtorrent_bind_address_directive(rtorrent_ref, rtorrent_version=None):
     return "network.bind_address.ipv4.set"
 
 def build_rtorrent_config_content(username, scgi_port, torrent_port, bind_address_directive, scgi_unix_socket=None):
-    scgi_line = f"network.scgi.open_local = {scgi_unix_socket}" if scgi_unix_socket else f"{scgi_line}"
+    if scgi_unix_socket:
+        scgi_line = f"network.scgi.open_local = {scgi_unix_socket}"
+    else:
+        scgi_line = f"network.scgi.open_port = 127.0.0.1:{scgi_port}"
+
     return f"""
 ## https://git.linuxiarz.pl/gru/tools_scripts/_edit/master/install_rtorrent.py
 # Generated by install_rtorrent.py
@@ -836,18 +839,36 @@ def verify_install(base_dir, rtorrent_install, libtorrent_install, rpc_backend,
 
     linked = capture(["ldd", str(rtorrent_bin)], check=True, debug=debug)
     checks = [("libtorrent", str(Path(libtorrent_install) / "lib"))]
+
     if rpc_backend == "xmlrpc-c":
         checks.append(("xmlrpc", str(Path(xmlrpc_install) / "lib")))
+
     for libname, expected in checks:
         lines = [line for line in linked.splitlines() if libname in line]
         print_link_lines(f"Linked {libname} lines:", lines)
         if not any(expected in line for line in lines):
             raise InstallError(f"rtorrent does not appear to be linked against the compiled {libname} from {expected}.")
+
     if rpc_backend == "tinyxml2":
         tinyxml_lines = [line for line in linked.splitlines() if "tinyxml2" in line.lower()]
         print_link_lines("Linked tinyxml2 lines:", tinyxml_lines)
+
         if not tinyxml_lines:
-            raise InstallError("rTorrent does not appear to be linked against tinyxml2.")
+            config_log = Path(base_dir) / "rtorrent" / "config.log"
+            config_text = config_log.read_text(errors="ignore").lower() if config_log.exists() else ""
+
+            tinyxml2_evidence = (
+                "with-xmlrpc-tinyxml2" in config_text
+                or "xmlrpc-tinyxml2" in config_text
+                or "tinyxml2" in config_text
+            )
+
+            if tinyxml2_evidence:
+                print("tinyxml2 is not visible in ldd; accepting config.log evidence of tinyxml2/XML-RPC build.")
+            else:
+                raise InstallError(
+                    "rTorrent does not expose tinyxml2 in ldd, and config.log does not show tinyxml2/XML-RPC support."
+                )
 
     if curl_install:
         verify_libtorrent_curl_integration(base_dir, libtorrent_install, curl_install, cares_install, debug=debug)
@@ -856,24 +877,39 @@ def verify_install(base_dir, rtorrent_install, libtorrent_install, rpc_backend,
     env["LANG"] = "C"
     env["LC_ALL"] = "C"
     env["TERM"] = env.get("TERM", "xterm")
+
     ld_paths = [str(Path(libtorrent_install) / "lib")]
+
     if rpc_backend == "xmlrpc-c" and xmlrpc_install:
         ld_paths.append(str(Path(xmlrpc_install) / "lib"))
+
     if curl_install:
         ld_paths.append(str(Path(curl_install) / "lib"))
+
     if cares_install:
         ld_paths.append(str(Path(cares_install) / "lib"))
+
     env["LD_LIBRARY_PATH"] = ":".join(ld_paths)
 
-    probe = subprocess.run([str(rtorrent_bin), "-h"], env=env, check=False, text=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+    probe = subprocess.run(
+        [str(rtorrent_bin), "-h"],
+        env=env,
+        check=False,
+        text=True,
+        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+        stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+    )
     help_output = ((probe.stdout or "") + "\n" + (probe.stderr or "")).lower()
+
+    if probe.returncode != 0:
+        raise InstallError("Compiled rTorrent binary exists but cannot run with the generated runtime environment.")
+
     if "xmlrpc-c" in help_output and "i8" in help_output:
         raise InstallError(
             "rTorrent was built against an xmlrpc-c library without i8 support. "
             "Make sure the custom xmlrpc-c build is used and that no older local installation shadows it."
         )
 
-
 def build_parser():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Installer for libtorrent + rTorrent under /opt. RPC defaults to tinyxml2; xmlrpc-c is optional.")
     parser.add_argument("--base-dir", default=DEFAULT_BASE_DIR, help=f"Base build/install directory (default: {DEFAULT_BASE_DIR})")