diff --git a/scripts/mssql_clickhouse_migrate.sh b/scripts/mssql_clickhouse_migrate.sh
index dc355f2..0938de5 100755
--- a/scripts/mssql_clickhouse_migrate.sh
+++ b/scripts/mssql_clickhouse_migrate.sh
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@
 #
 set -euo pipefail
 
+# sqlcmd is installed under /opt by mssql-tools18; that path is usually added only in login shells.
+# Prepend here so migrate-db works in the same non-login SSH session right after --install-deps.
+export PATH="/opt/mssql-tools18/bin:/opt/mssql-tools/bin:${PATH:-}"
+
 SCRIPT_NAME=$(basename "$0")
 
 die() {
@@ -85,22 +89,18 @@ EOF
 
 ensure_sqlcmd() {
   if [[ -n "${SQLCMD_PATH:-}" ]]; then
-    [[ -x "$SQLCMD_PATH" ]] || die "SQLCMD_PATH is set but not executable: $SQLCMD_PATH"
+    [[ -f "$SQLCMD_PATH" && -x "$SQLCMD_PATH" ]] || die "SQLCMD_PATH is set but not an executable file: $SQLCMD_PATH"
     export PATH="$(dirname "$SQLCMD_PATH"):$PATH"
   fi
   if command -v sqlcmd >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     return 0
   fi
-  local d
-  for d in /opt/mssql-tools18/bin /opt/mssql-tools/bin; do
-    if [[ -x "$d/sqlcmd" ]]; then
-      export PATH="$d:$PATH"
-      return 0
-    fi
-  done
-  die "sqlcmd not found. On this host run once (needs sudo), then open a new shell or re-login:
+  die "sqlcmd not found. Install Microsoft tools, then retry (same shell is OK):
+
   $0 --install-deps
-If sqlcmd is already installed, add it to PATH or set SQLCMD_PATH=/path/to/sqlcmd"
+
+Or: export PATH=\"\$PATH:/opt/mssql-tools18/bin\"
+Or set: SQLCMD_PATH=/path/to/sqlcmd"
 }
 
 ensure_clickhouse_client() {