diff --git a/example_trainer/vllm_api_server.py b/example_trainer/vllm_api_server.py
index b436342d..d7f6e2e6 100644
--- a/example_trainer/vllm_api_server.py
+++ b/example_trainer/vllm_api_server.py
@@ -80,25 +80,32 @@ def _apply_patches_early() -> bool:
 
     try:
         # Try relative import first (when run as module)
-        
         from .vllm_patching import apply_patches
+    except ImportError:
+        # Fall back to absolute import (when run as script)
+        try:
+            import sys
+            from pathlib import Path
+            # Add parent directory to path so we can import vllm_patching
+            script_dir = Path(__file__).parent
+            if str(script_dir) not in sys.path:
+                sys.path.insert(0, str(script_dir))
+            from vllm_patching import apply_patches
+        except ImportError as e:
+            print(f"[vLLM Server] Could not import vllm_patching: {e}")
+            print("[vLLM Server] Shared memory weight updates will not be available")
+            return False
 
-
+    try:
         success = apply_patches()
         if success:
             print("[vLLM Server] ✓ vLLM patches applied successfully!")
         else:
             print("[vLLM Server] ✗ Failed to apply patches")
         return success
-
-    except ImportError as e:
-        print(f"[vLLM Server] Could not import vllm_patching: {e}")
-        print("[vLLM Server] Shared memory weight updates will not be available")
-        return False
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"[vLLM Server] Error applying patches: {e}")
         import traceback
-
         traceback.print_exc()
         return False