diff --git a/backend/handler/sync/ssh_handler.py b/backend/handler/sync/ssh_handler.py
index d054060c2..5f5cb3316 100644
--- a/backend/handler/sync/ssh_handler.py
+++ b/backend/handler/sync/ssh_handler.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ device's sync_config.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import functools
 import hashlib
 import os
 import tempfile
@@ -51,12 +52,12 @@ class SSHSyncHandler:
         self.keys_path = Path(SYNC_SSH_KEYS_PATH)
         try:
             self.keys_path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        except OSError:
-            log.warning(
-                f"Could not create or access {self.keys_path}; "
-                "push-pull sync will be unavailable until the directory is writable "
-                "or keys are mounted at this path."
-            )
+        except OSError as e:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f"SSH keys directory {self.keys_path} is not writable ({e}). "
+                "Mount a writable volume at this path, or set SYNC_SSH_KEYS_PATH "
+                "to a writable location, to use push-pull sync."
+            ) from e
 
     def _resolve_key_path(self, device_id: str, sync_config: dict) -> str | None:
         """Resolve the SSH key path for a device.
@@ -231,4 +232,12 @@ class SSHSyncHandler:
             log.info(f"Deleted remote file: {remote_path}")
 
 
-ssh_sync_handler = SSHSyncHandler()
+@functools.cache
+def get_ssh_sync_handler() -> SSHSyncHandler:
+    """Lazily instantiate the SSH sync handler on first use.
+
+    Deferred so that startup doesn't fail when push-pull sync is unconfigured
+    or the keys directory is not writable. The handler raises a clear error
+    at call time if the directory cannot be created.
+    """
+    return SSHSyncHandler()
diff --git a/backend/tasks/sync_push_pull_task.py b/backend/tasks/sync_push_pull_task.py
index a59bf6b82..8ab05c263 100644
--- a/backend/tasks/sync_push_pull_task.py
+++ b/backend/tasks/sync_push_pull_task.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from handler.database import (
 )
 from handler.filesystem import fs_asset_handler
 from handler.sync.comparison import compare_save_state
-from handler.sync.ssh_handler import ssh_sync_handler
+from handler.sync.ssh_handler import get_ssh_sync_handler
 from logger.formatter import highlight as hl
 from logger.logger import log
 from models.device import Device, SyncMode
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ async def run_push_pull_sync(
 
 async def _sync_device(device: Device, session_id: int | None = None) -> dict:
     """Perform push-pull sync for a single device."""
+    ssh_sync_handler = get_ssh_sync_handler()
     sync_config = device.sync_config or {}
     if not sync_config.get("ssh_host"):
         log.warning(f"Push-pull device {device.id} has no ssh_host configured")
@@ -227,6 +228,7 @@ async def _process_remote_save(
     remote_save,
 ) -> str:
     """Process a single remote save file. Returns action taken."""
+    ssh_sync_handler = get_ssh_sync_handler()
     # Look up platform
     platform = db_platform_handler.get_platform_by_fs_slug(remote_save.platform_slug)
     if not platform:
@@ -340,6 +342,7 @@ async def _push_missing_saves(
     save_directories: list[dict],
 ) -> int:
     """Push server saves that are missing from the device."""
+    ssh_sync_handler = get_ssh_sync_handler()
     pushed = 0
 
     # Build set of remote filenames per platform
diff --git a/env.template b/env.template
index b6c5b0f80..d413fc19e 100644
--- a/env.template
+++ b/env.template
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ SCHEDULED_CONVERT_IMAGES_TO_WEBP_CRON=0 4 * * *  # Cron expression for scheduled
 ENABLE_SCHEDULED_RETROACHIEVEMENTS_PROGRESS_SYNC=false  # Enable scheduled RetroAchievements progress sync
 SCHEDULED_RETROACHIEVEMENTS_PROGRESS_SYNC_CRON=0 4 * * *  # Cron expression for scheduled RetroAchievements sync
 
-# Sync
+# Sync — both modes use $ROMM_BASE_PATH/sync by default. Mount a writable
+# volume at that path when enabling either feature.
 ENABLE_SYNC_FOLDER_WATCHER=false  # Watch the sync folder and trigger scans on change
 SYNC_FOLDER_SCAN_DELAY=2  # Delay in minutes before scanning after a sync folder change
 ENABLE_SYNC_PUSH_PULL=false  # Enable scheduled sync push/pull