--- a/src/pyghidra_mcp/context.py
+++ b/src/pyghidra_mcp/context.py
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Union
 
-import chromadb
+try:
+    import chromadb
+except ImportError:
+    chromadb = None
 
 from pyghidra_mcp.decompiler_pool import DecompilerPool
 from pyghidra_mcp.import_detection import is_ghidra_importable
@@ -44,7 +47,7 @@
     ghidra_analysis_complete: bool
     file_path: Path | None = None
     load_time: float | None = None
-    code_collection: chromadb.Collection | None = None
+    code_collection: Any | None = None
     strings: list | None = None
 
     @property
--- a/src/pyghidra_mcp/indexing_mixin.py
+++ b/src/pyghidra_mcp/indexing_mixin.py
@@ -4,8 +4,12 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
-import chromadb
-from chromadb.config import Settings
+try:
+    import chromadb
+    from chromadb.config import Settings
+except ImportError:
+    chromadb = None
+    Settings = None
 
 from pyghidra_mcp.tools import DEFAULT_DECOMPILE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS, GhidraTools
 
@@ -23,6 +27,12 @@
     programs: dict[str, Any]
 
     def _init_indexing_state(self, pyghidra_mcp_dir: Path, *, threaded: bool) -> None:
+        if chromadb is None:
+            self.chroma_client = None
+            self.index_executor = None
+            self._index_futures = {}
+            self._index_lock = threading.Lock()
+            return
         chromadb_path = pyghidra_mcp_dir / "chromadb"
         chromadb_path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         self.chroma_client = chromadb.PersistentClient(
@@ -98,6 +108,8 @@
             self.schedule_indexing(program_info.name)
 
     def _open_complete_collection(self, name: str) -> Any | None:
+        if self.chroma_client is None:
+            return None
         """Return an existing, fully-indexed collection, or None.
 
         Completion is decided by the ``COLLECTION_COMPLETE_KEY`` marker, not by
@@ -128,6 +140,8 @@
         )
 
     def _init_chroma_code_collection_for_program(self, program_info: Any) -> None:
+        if self.chroma_client is None:
+            return
         from ghidra.program.model.listing import Function
 
         logger.info("Initializing Chroma code collection for %s", program_info.name)
--- a/src/pyghidra_mcp/server.py
+++ b/src/pyghidra_mcp/server.py
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@
 )
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+import builtins
+_orig_print = builtins.print
+def _safe_mcp_print(*args, **kwargs):
+    if kwargs.get("file") is None or kwargs.get("file") is sys.stdout:
+        kwargs["file"] = sys.stderr
+    try:
+        _orig_print(*args, **kwargs)
+    except (ValueError, OSError):
+        pass
+builtins.print = _safe_mcp_print
+