diff --git a/scripts/sync.sh b/scripts/sync.sh
index 6308b94..ffcc7ae 100755
--- a/scripts/sync.sh
+++ b/scripts/sync.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,16 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # sync.sh — Copy telegram-join-approval-bot submodule into internal/, then apply patches.
-# Usage: ./scripts/sync.sh
+# Usage: cd scripts/ && ./sync.sh
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
+# Ensure script is run from the scripts/ directory
+if [[ "$(basename "$PWD")" != "scripts" ]]; then
+  echo "❌ This script must be run from the scripts/ directory."
+  echo "   Usage: cd scripts/ && ./sync.sh"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"