diff --git a/utilities/soc_rfsoc_prj_startup.m b/utilities/soc_rfsoc_prj_startup.m
index 5379da8..f9cbeed 100644
--- a/utilities/soc_rfsoc_prj_startup.m
+++ b/utilities/soc_rfsoc_prj_startup.m
@@ -1,8 +1,24 @@
 %% Startup Tasks
 %
-% Configure HDL Coder to use Xilinx Vivado for HDL workflows.
+% Configure HDL Coder to use Xilinx Vivado for HDL workflows
+% only when Vivado is installed on this machine.
 %
-hdlsetuptoolpath('ToolName','Xilinx Vivado', ...
-                 'ToolPath','/tools/Xilinx/Vivado/2024.1/bin/vivado');
 
-%% 
\ No newline at end of file
+vivadoPath = '/tools/Xilinx/Vivado/2024.1/bin/vivado';
+
+if exist(vivadoPath, 'file') == 2
+
+    hdlsetuptoolpath( ...
+        'ToolName', 'Xilinx Vivado', ...
+        'ToolPath', vivadoPath);
+
+    fprintf('[FrFT Project] Vivado detected. HDL workflow enabled.\n');
+
+else
+
+    warning([ ...
+        '[FrFT Project] Vivado not found.\n' ...
+        'HDL synthesis / bitstream generation disabled.\n' ...
+        'Project running in MATLAB/Simulink modeling-only mode.']);
+
+end
\ No newline at end of file