diff --git a/ex_engine/build_unified_bridge.sh b/ex_engine/build_unified_bridge.sh
index e58a3b1c..bb972eac 100755
--- a/ex_engine/build_unified_bridge.sh
+++ b/ex_engine/build_unified_bridge.sh
@@ -27,11 +27,9 @@ build_dir = "$BUILD_DIR"
 try:
     from torch.utils.cpp_extension import load
     
-    # Find ixformer include/lib dirs for linking
     extra_include = ["$SCRIPT_DIR/csrc/ilu"]
     extra_ldflags = []
     
-    # ixformer lib dirs — bridge needs these at runtime, not compile time
     for p in ["/usr/local/corex/lib64/python3/dist-packages/ixformer",
               "/usr/local/corex/lib64"]:
         if os.path.isdir(p):
@@ -40,19 +38,39 @@ try:
                 extra_ldflags.append(f"-L{p}")
                 extra_ldflags.append(f"-Wl,-rpath,{p}")
 
-    ext = load(
-        name="ix_unified_bridge",
-        sources=[src],
-        extra_include_paths=extra_include,
-        extra_ldflags=extra_ldflags,
-        verbose=True,
-        build_directory=build_dir,
-    )
-    funcs = [x for x in dir(ext) if not x.startswith('_')]
-    print(f"[build_bridge] SUCCESS via cpp_extension: {len(funcs)} functions")
-    print(f"[build_bridge] functions: {funcs}")
-    sys.exit(0)
+    # Use load() for compilation only. It may fail on import because
+    # ixformer::infer symbols need RTLD_GLOBAL preload at runtime.
+    # That's OK — we just need the .so file to exist.
+    try:
+        ext = load(
+            name="ix_unified_bridge",
+            sources=[src],
+            extra_include_paths=extra_include,
+            extra_ldflags=extra_ldflags,
+            verbose=True,
+            build_directory=build_dir,
+        )
+        funcs = [x for x in dir(ext) if not x.startswith('_')]
+        print(f"[build_bridge] SUCCESS via cpp_extension: {len(funcs)} functions: {funcs}")
+        sys.exit(0)
+    except ImportError as ie:
+        # Compilation succeeded but import failed (expected: ixformer symbols unresolved)
+        # Check if .so was actually produced
+        built = glob.glob(os.path.join(build_dir, "ix_unified_bridge*.so"))
+        if built:
+            print(f"[build_bridge] COMPILED OK: {built[0]}")
+            print(f"[build_bridge] Import deferred to runtime (ixformer preload needed): {ie}")
+            sys.exit(0)
+        else:
+            print(f"[build_bridge] No .so produced: {ie}")
+            sys.exit(1)
+
 except Exception as e:
+    # Check if .so exists from compilation before the exception
+    built = glob.glob(os.path.join(build_dir, "ix_unified_bridge*.so"))
+    if built:
+        print(f"[build_bridge] COMPILED OK (exception during import): {built[0]}")
+        sys.exit(0)
     print(f"[build_bridge] cpp_extension failed: {e}")
     sys.exit(1)
 PYEOF