diff --git a/src/script.php b/src/script.php
index 4a15e66e..c75c8044 100644
--- a/src/script.php
+++ b/src/script.php
@@ -32,6 +32,28 @@ class Pkg_MokowaasInstallerScript
 	 *
 	 * @since   2.2.0
 	 */
+	/**
+	 * Runs before package installation/update.
+	 *
+	 * Fixes MySQL strict mode incompatibility: #__extensions.element is NOT NULL
+	 * with no default, causing INSERT failures when Joomla's package installer
+	 * creates placeholder rows before processing sub-extension manifests.
+	 */
+	public function preflight($type, $parent)
+	{
+		try
+		{
+			$db = Factory::getDbo();
+			$db->setQuery("ALTER TABLE " . $db->quoteName('#__extensions')
+				. " MODIFY " . $db->quoteName('element') . " VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL DEFAULT ''");
+			$db->execute();
+		}
+		catch (\Throwable $e)
+		{
+			// Non-fatal — column may already have a default
+		}
+	}
+
 	public function postflight($type, $parent)
 	{
 		// Remove legacy extensions and migrate settings before retiring