diff --git a/archivebox/cli/archivebox_install.py b/archivebox/cli/archivebox_install.py
index 509396db..b9c666fe 100755
--- a/archivebox/cli/archivebox_install.py
+++ b/archivebox/cli/archivebox_install.py
@@ -167,6 +167,10 @@ def install(binaries: tuple[str, ...] = (), binproviders: str = "*", dry_run: bo
         install_plugin_names.extend(provider.strip() for provider in binproviders.split(",") if provider.strip())
 
     if install_plugin_names or not binaries:
+        if not binaries:
+            from archivebox.workers.supervisord_util import require_dependency_install_memory
+
+            require_dependency_install_memory()
         print("[+] Running plugin installer via abx-dl bus...")
         print()
 
diff --git a/archivebox/tests/test_cli_install.py b/archivebox/tests/test_cli_install.py
index 9ce7a4b9..7ae0c110 100644
--- a/archivebox/tests/test_cli_install.py
+++ b/archivebox/tests/test_cli_install.py
@@ -79,6 +79,22 @@ def test_install_target_resolver_uses_declared_binary_aliases():
     assert _resolve_install_targets(("not-a-real-tool",)) == ([], ["not-a-real-tool"])
 
 
+def test_default_dependency_install_memory_preflight_fails_before_installers(capsys):
+    from archivebox.workers.supervisord_util import (
+        MIN_DEPENDENCY_INSTALL_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES,
+        require_dependency_install_memory,
+    )
+
+    require_dependency_install_memory(MIN_DEPENDENCY_INSTALL_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES)
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as err:
+        require_dependency_install_memory(MIN_DEPENDENCY_INSTALL_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES - 1)
+
+    assert err.value.code == 1
+    output = capsys.readouterr().err
+    assert "Not enough available memory to install ArchiveBox dependencies" in output
+    assert "No plugin dependency installers were started" in output
+
+
 def test_install_shows_binary_status(initialized_archive):
     """Test that install shows status of binaries."""
 
diff --git a/archivebox/workers/supervisord_util.py b/archivebox/workers/supervisord_util.py
index 26631706..e4c99b83 100644
--- a/archivebox/workers/supervisord_util.py
+++ b/archivebox/workers/supervisord_util.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ _RUNTIME_COMPONENT_ORDER = ("orchestrator", "server", "sonic")
 _SUPERVISORD_ERRORS = (XmlRpcError, OSError, RuntimeError, TimeoutError)
 _PROCESS_STATE_ERRORS = (DatabaseError, OSError, RuntimeError, ValueError, psutil.Error)
 MIN_SERVER_WORKER_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES = 256 * 1024 * 1024
+MIN_DEPENDENCY_INSTALL_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES = MIN_SERVER_WORKER_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES
 
 
 def _shell_join(args: list[str]) -> str:
@@ -81,22 +82,41 @@ def effective_available_memory_bytes() -> int:
     return available
 
 
-def require_server_worker_memory(available_bytes: int | None = None) -> None:
-    available_bytes = effective_available_memory_bytes() if available_bytes is None else available_bytes
-    if available_bytes >= MIN_SERVER_WORKER_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES:
+def _require_available_memory(operation: str, idle_message: str, available_bytes: int, required_bytes: int) -> None:
+    if available_bytes >= required_bytes:
         return
 
     available_mib = available_bytes // (1024 * 1024)
-    required_mib = MIN_SERVER_WORKER_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES // (1024 * 1024)
-    STDERR.print("[red][X] Not enough available memory to start ArchiveBox safely.[/red]")
+    required_mib = required_bytes // (1024 * 1024)
+    STDERR.print(f"[red][X] Not enough available memory to {operation} safely.[/red]")
     STDERR.print(
-        f"    Available RAM + swap: {available_mib} MiB; at least {required_mib} MiB must be free before starting the server workers.",
+        f"    Available RAM + swap: {available_mib} MiB; at least {required_mib} MiB must be free before this operation.",
     )
-    STDERR.print("    No server, runner, or Sonic workers were started.")
+    STDERR.print(idle_message)
     STDERR.print("    Use a host/container with at least 1 GB RAM or configure swap, then run the same command again.")
     raise SystemExit(1)
 
 
+def require_server_worker_memory(available_bytes: int | None = None) -> None:
+    available_bytes = effective_available_memory_bytes() if available_bytes is None else available_bytes
+    _require_available_memory(
+        "start ArchiveBox",
+        "    No server, runner, or Sonic workers were started.",
+        available_bytes,
+        MIN_SERVER_WORKER_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES,
+    )
+
+
+def require_dependency_install_memory(available_bytes: int | None = None) -> None:
+    available_bytes = effective_available_memory_bytes() if available_bytes is None else available_bytes
+    _require_available_memory(
+        "install ArchiveBox dependencies",
+        "    No plugin dependency installers were started.",
+        available_bytes,
+        MIN_DEPENDENCY_INSTALL_AVAILABLE_MEMORY_BYTES,
+    )
+
+
 def archivebox_cmd(*args: str) -> list[str]:
     return [str(resolve_env_binary("archivebox")), *args]