diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index cf89da9..78a08bd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -218,7 +218,12 @@ jobs:
         echo "**Platform:** ${{ matrix.platform }}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
         echo "**Base Image:** ${{ matrix.os-image }}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
         echo "" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-        echo "✓ System packages: python3-gi, python3-dbus, python3-cairo, bluez" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+        if [[ "${{ matrix.platform }}" == "linux/arm/v7" ]]; then
+          echo "✓ System packages: python3-gi, python3-dbus, python3-cairo, bluez, libffi-dev" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+          echo "✓ libffi-dev included for 32-bit ARM cffi compilation" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+        else
+          echo "✓ System packages: python3-gi, python3-dbus, python3-cairo, bluez" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+        fi
         echo "✓ Pip packages: bleak==1.1.1, bluezero" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
         echo "✓ BLE interface files copied" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
         echo "✓ BlueZ experimental mode configured" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index afd7e3d..6616468 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -266,14 +266,28 @@ print_header "Installing System Dependencies"
 if command -v apt-get &> /dev/null; then
     # Debian/Ubuntu/Raspberry Pi OS
     print_info "Detected Debian/Ubuntu-based system"
-    echo "Installing: python3-pip python3-gi python3-dbus python3-cairo bluez libcap2-bin libffi-dev"
+
+    # Detect architecture for platform-specific dependencies
+    ARCH=$(dpkg --print-architecture 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
+    PACKAGES="python3-pip python3-gi python3-dbus python3-cairo bluez libcap2-bin"
+
+    # Add libffi-dev only for 32-bit ARM (armhf) - needed for cffi compilation
+    # x86_64 and arm64 have pre-built cffi wheels available
+    if [[ "$ARCH" == "armhf" ]]; then
+        PACKAGES="$PACKAGES libffi-dev"
+        echo "Installing: $PACKAGES"
+        print_info "Note: Including libffi-dev for 32-bit ARM cffi compilation"
+    else
+        echo "Installing: $PACKAGES"
+    fi
+
     # Use sudo only if not running as root
     if [ "$EUID" -eq 0 ]; then
         apt-get update
-        apt-get install -y python3-pip python3-gi python3-dbus python3-cairo bluez libcap2-bin libffi-dev
+        apt-get install -y $PACKAGES
     else
         sudo apt-get update
-        sudo apt-get install -y python3-pip python3-gi python3-dbus python3-cairo bluez libcap2-bin libffi-dev
+        sudo apt-get install -y $PACKAGES
     fi
     print_success "System dependencies installed (using pre-compiled system packages)"
 elif command -v pacman &> /dev/null; then
diff --git a/tests/test_installer.sh b/tests/test_installer.sh
index 4030a48..5e5916e 100755
--- a/tests/test_installer.sh
+++ b/tests/test_installer.sh
@@ -205,7 +205,14 @@ echo "Installation summary:"
 echo "  • install.sh is fully self-contained (handles all prerequisites)"
 echo "  • Reticulum Network Stack: installed via pip"
 if [ "$OS_TYPE" = "debian" ]; then
-    echo "  • System packages: python3, python3-pip, git, python3-gi, python3-dbus, python3-cairo, bluez, libffi-dev"
+    # Detect architecture for platform-specific package list
+    ARCH=$(dpkg --print-architecture 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
+    if [[ "$ARCH" == "armhf" ]]; then
+        echo "  • System packages: python3, python3-pip, git, python3-gi, python3-dbus, python3-cairo, bluez, libffi-dev"
+        echo "  • Note: libffi-dev included for 32-bit ARM cffi compilation"
+    else
+        echo "  • System packages: python3, python3-pip, git, python3-gi, python3-dbus, python3-cairo, bluez"
+    fi
     echo "  • Pip packages: rns, bleak, bluezero"
     echo "  • Install method: System packages (no compilation)"
     echo "  • Installation time: < 1 minute"