diff --git a/src/main/java/module-info.java b/src/main/java/module-info.java
index 3f8a7b3..3597cae 100644
--- a/src/main/java/module-info.java
+++ b/src/main/java/module-info.java
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ module org.jcnc.snow.compiler {
     uses CLICommand;
     requires java.desktop;
     requires java.logging;
+    requires org.graalvm.nativeimage;
     exports org.jcnc.snow.compiler.ir.core;
     exports org.jcnc.snow.compiler.ir.instruction;
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jcnc/snow/vm/module/LocalVariableStore.java b/src/main/java/org/jcnc/snow/vm/module/LocalVariableStore.java
index e1b3bd1..7207882 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jcnc/snow/vm/module/LocalVariableStore.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jcnc/snow/vm/module/LocalVariableStore.java
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import org.jcnc.snow.vm.utils.LoggingUtils;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 
+import static org.jcnc.snow.vm.utils.VMUtils.isNativeImage;
+
 /**
  * The {@code LocalVariableStore} represents a simple dynamically-sized
  * local-variable table (<em>frame locals</em>) of the VM.
@@ -84,6 +86,9 @@ public class LocalVariableStore {
         }
     }
 
+
+    /* ---------- internal helpers ---------- */
+
     /**
      * Clears all variables (used when a stack frame is popped).
      */
@@ -106,9 +111,6 @@ public class LocalVariableStore {
         }
     }
 
-
-    /* ---------- internal helpers ---------- */
-
     /**
      * Ensures backing list can hold {@code minCapacity} slots.
      */
@@ -120,12 +122,18 @@ public class LocalVariableStore {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Mode-specific UI hook (unchanged).
+     * Mode-specific UI hook for debugging.
+     * <p>
+     * If debug mode is enabled and not running inside a GraalVM native-image,
+     * this method will open the Swing-based variable inspector window.
+     * In native-image environments (where AWT/Swing is unavailable),
+     * the window will not be displayed.
      */
     private void handleMode() {
-        /* no-op */
         if (SnowConfig.isDebug()) {
+            if (isNativeImage()) return;
             LocalVariableStoreSwing.display(this, "Local Variable Table");
         }
     }
+
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jcnc/snow/vm/utils/VMUtils.java b/src/main/java/org/jcnc/snow/vm/utils/VMUtils.java
index 21b526d..ca8d25a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jcnc/snow/vm/utils/VMUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jcnc/snow/vm/utils/VMUtils.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package org.jcnc.snow.vm.utils;
 
+import org.graalvm.nativeimage.ImageInfo;
 import org.jcnc.snow.vm.engine.VirtualMachineEngine;
 
 /**
@@ -39,4 +40,21 @@ public class VMUtils {
         vm.printStack();
         vm.printLocalVariables();
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Detects if the current runtime environment is a GraalVM native-image.
+     * <p>
+     * Uses GraalVM's {@code org.graalvm.nativeimage.ImageInfo.inImageCode()} API to determine
+     * if the application is running as a native executable. If the class is not present
+     * (for example, in a standard JVM), returns {@code false}.
+     *
+     * @return {@code true} if running inside a GraalVM native-image, otherwise {@code false}
+     */
+    public static boolean isNativeImage() {
+        try {
+            return ImageInfo.inImageCode();
+        } catch (Throwable t) {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
 }