diff --git a/scripts/prepare_frontend_dir.py b/scripts/prepare_frontend_dir.py
index a88c1bc..881c5e1 100644
--- a/scripts/prepare_frontend_dir.py
+++ b/scripts/prepare_frontend_dir.py
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
 from pathlib import Path
 import shutil
 
 TARGET = Path("meshchatx") / "public"
 
+if not Path("pyproject.toml").exists():
+    raise RuntimeError("Must run from project root")
+
 if TARGET.exists():
+    if TARGET.is_symlink():
+        raise RuntimeError(f"{TARGET} is a symlink, refusing to remove")
     shutil.rmtree(TARGET)
 
 TARGET.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)