diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 05908d3..5ab86a7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,14 +57,17 @@ sudo apt-get install python3-pip python3-gi python3-dbus python3-cairo bluez
 
 **Arch Linux:**
 ```bash
-sudo pacman -S python-pip python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo bluez bluez-utils
+sudo pacman -S base-devel python-pip python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo bluez bluez-utils
 ```
 
 **Why these packages?**
-- `python3-gi` / `python-gobject`: Pre-compiled PyGObject bindings (avoids lengthy compilation)
-- `python3-dbus` / `python-dbus`: D-Bus Python bindings for BlueZ communication
-- `python3-cairo` / `python-cairo`: Cairo graphics library (PyGObject dependency)
-- `bluez`: Bluetooth stack for Linux
+- `base-devel`: Build tools (gcc, make, etc.) required for compiling PyGObject from pip
+- `python-gobject`: Python bindings for GObject (system package, but pip may still compile PyGObject)
+- `python-dbus`: D-Bus Python bindings for BlueZ communication
+- `python-cairo`: Cairo graphics library (PyGObject dependency)
+- `bluez` / `bluez-utils`: Bluetooth stack and utilities for Linux
+
+**Note for Arch users:** Unlike Debian/Ubuntu where all dependencies use pre-compiled system packages, Arch requires some compilation due to pip/system package integration differences. The bluezero pip package may compile PyGObject from source even when python-gobject is installed.
 
 #### 2. Install Python Dependencies
 
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index cd54605..2cb71e2 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -226,17 +226,18 @@ if command -v apt-get &> /dev/null; then
 elif command -v pacman &> /dev/null; then
     # Arch Linux
     print_info "Detected Arch Linux"
-    echo "Installing: python-pip python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo bluez bluez-utils"
+    echo "Installing: base-devel python-pip python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo bluez bluez-utils"
+    print_warning "Note: base-devel required for compiling bluezero dependencies (PyGObject from pip)"
     # Use sudo only if not running as root
     if [ "$EUID" -eq 0 ]; then
         # Sync package database first (may have been synced in basic prereqs, but ensure it's current)
         pacman -Sy --noconfirm
-        pacman -S --noconfirm python-pip python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo bluez bluez-utils
+        pacman -S --needed --noconfirm base-devel python-pip python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo bluez bluez-utils
     else
         sudo pacman -Sy --noconfirm
-        sudo pacman -S --noconfirm python-pip python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo bluez bluez-utils
+        sudo pacman -S --needed --noconfirm base-devel python-pip python-gobject python-dbus python-cairo bluez bluez-utils
     fi
-    print_success "System dependencies installed (using pre-compiled system packages)"
+    print_success "System dependencies installed (using pre-compiled system packages where available)"
 else
     print_warning "Could not detect package manager"
     print_info "Please manually install: BlueZ 5.x, python3-dbus"
diff --git a/tests/test_installer.sh b/tests/test_installer.sh
index dd6378b..43fa6bb 100755
--- a/tests/test_installer.sh
+++ b/tests/test_installer.sh
@@ -111,9 +111,9 @@ python3 -c "import bluezero; print('  ✓ bluezero imported successfully')" || {
 
 echo ""
 
-# Check that no build tools were required (verify we didn't compile anything)
-echo "Verifying no build dependencies were required..."
+# Check build tools status
 if [ "$OS_TYPE" = "debian" ]; then
+    echo "Verifying no build dependencies were required..."
     if dpkg -l | grep -q meson; then
         echo "  ⚠ WARNING: meson was installed (should not be needed)"
     fi
@@ -123,18 +123,12 @@ if [ "$OS_TYPE" = "debian" ]; then
     if dpkg -l | grep -q libglib2.0-dev; then
         echo "  ⚠ WARNING: libglib2.0-dev was installed (should not be needed)"
     fi
+    echo "  ✓ No build tools required"
 elif [ "$OS_TYPE" = "arch" ]; then
-    if pacman -Q meson &> /dev/null; then
-        echo "  ⚠ WARNING: meson was installed (should not be needed)"
-    fi
-    if pacman -Q cmake &> /dev/null; then
-        echo "  ⚠ WARNING: cmake was installed (should not be needed)"
-    fi
-    if pacman -Q glib2 &> /dev/null; then
-        echo "  ⚠ WARNING: glib2 dev headers were installed (should not be needed)"
-    fi
+    echo "Verifying build tools installed (required on Arch for PyGObject compilation)..."
+    check_package base-devel
+    echo "  ✓ base-devel installed (includes gcc, make, etc.)"
 fi
-echo "  ✓ No build tools required"
 
 echo ""
 
@@ -167,10 +161,12 @@ echo "  • install.sh is fully self-contained (handles all prerequisites)"
 echo "  • Reticulum Network Stack: installed via pip"
 if [ "$OS_TYPE" = "debian" ]; then
     echo "  • System packages: python3, python3-pip, git, python3-gi, python3-dbus, python3-cairo, bluez"
+    echo "  • Pip packages: rns, bleak, bluezero"
+    echo "  • Install method: System packages (no compilation)"
 elif [ "$OS_TYPE" = "arch" ]; then
-    echo "  • System packages: python, python-pip, git, python-gobject, python-dbus, python-cairo, bluez, bluez-utils"
+    echo "  • System packages: python, python-pip, git, python-gobject, python-dbus, python-cairo, bluez, bluez-utils, base-devel"
+    echo "  • Pip packages: rns, bleak, bluezero (PyGObject compiled during bluezero install)"
+    echo "  • Install method: System packages + compilation (base-devel provides build tools)"
 fi
-echo "  • Pip packages: rns, bleak, bluezero"
-echo "  • Install method: System packages for compiled deps (no build tools needed)"
-echo "  • Installation time: Fast (< 2 minutes)"
+echo "  • Installation time: Fast (< 2 minutes on Debian/Ubuntu, ~3 minutes on Arch)"
 echo ""