diff --git a/src/tether/exporters/monolithic.py b/src/tether/exporters/monolithic.py
index 7725240..738c68c 100644
--- a/src/tether/exporters/monolithic.py
+++ b/src/tether/exporters/monolithic.py
@@ -144,6 +144,22 @@ def _require_monolithic_deps() -> None:
         except ImportError:
             missing.append(pip_name)
 
+    # lerobot version must be exactly 0.5.1 — the SmolVLA/pi0 export patches
+    # target its 0.5.1 module layout (SmolVLMWithExpertModel.embed_image, the
+    # masking_utils surface). A different lerobot imports fine but then fails
+    # the monkeypatch or exports a wrong graph — the common, confusing failure
+    # behind issue #190. Assert it explicitly rather than discovering it later.
+    try:
+        import lerobot
+        lerobot_ver = getattr(lerobot, "__version__", "unknown")
+        if lerobot_ver != "0.5.1":
+            missing.append(
+                f"lerobot==0.5.1 (found {lerobot_ver}; the monolithic export "
+                f"patches target lerobot 0.5.1's module layout exactly)"
+            )
+    except ImportError:
+        pass  # already reported as missing above
+
     if missing:
         raise ImportError(
             "Missing dependencies for monolithic export:\n  - "
@@ -251,7 +267,17 @@ def _embed_image_with_explicit_patch_mask(self, image):
             _embed_image_with_explicit_patch_mask._tether_patched = True
             _smolvla.SmolVLMWithExpertModel.embed_image = _embed_image_with_explicit_patch_mask
     except Exception as exc:
-        logger.debug("SmolVLA explicit patch-mask export patch not installed: %s", exc)
+        # WARNING, not debug: if this patch fails to apply (e.g. a lerobot API
+        # change moved SmolVLMWithExpertModel.embed_image), the SmolVLA export
+        # proceeds with the UNPATCHED forward and can fail later with a cryptic
+        # mask-broadcast error — or export a subtly wrong graph. Surface it so
+        # the failure is attributable, not silent (relates to issue #190).
+        logger.warning(
+            "SmolVLA explicit patch-mask export patch did NOT apply (%s). "
+            "The export will continue unpatched; if it fails downstream with a "
+            "vision/attention-mask shape error, this is the likely cause. "
+            "Verify lerobot==0.5.1 is installed.", exc,
+        )
 
     try:
         from transformers.models.smolvlm import modeling_smolvlm as _smolvlm
diff --git a/tests/test_monolithic_version_guard.py b/tests/test_monolithic_version_guard.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6beefac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_monolithic_version_guard.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+"""The monolithic export must reject a wrong lerobot version up front (#190).
+
+Previously only `transformers` was version-checked; `lerobot` was merely
+imported, so a mismatched lerobot passed the dep check and failed later with a
+confusing monkeypatch/mask error.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+import types
+
+import pytest
+
+from tether.exporters import monolithic
+
+
+def _fake_lerobot(version: str) -> types.ModuleType:
+    m = types.ModuleType("lerobot")
+    m.__version__ = version
+    return m
+
+
+def test_wrong_lerobot_version_is_reported(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "lerobot", _fake_lerobot("0.4.0"))
+    with pytest.raises(ImportError) as ei:
+        monolithic._require_monolithic_deps()
+    assert "lerobot==0.5.1 (found 0.4.0" in str(ei.value)
+
+
+def test_correct_lerobot_version_not_reported(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "lerobot", _fake_lerobot("0.5.1"))
+    # Other monolithic deps may be absent in this env (so it can still raise),
+    # but the lerobot-version complaint must NOT be among the reasons.
+    try:
+        monolithic._require_monolithic_deps()
+        msg = ""
+    except ImportError as e:
+        msg = str(e)
+    assert "found 0.5.1" not in msg
+    assert "lerobot==0.5.1 (found" not in msg