diff --git a/scripts/bash/stage-modules.sh b/scripts/bash/stage-modules.sh
index d19e61b..2ab1d92 100755
--- a/scripts/bash/stage-modules.sh
+++ b/scripts/bash/stage-modules.sh
@@ -54,7 +54,16 @@ sync_local_staging(){
   fi
 
   if command -v rsync >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    rsync -a --delete "$src_modules"/ "$dest_modules"/
+    # rsync may return exit code 23 (permission warnings) in WSL2 - these are harmless
+    rsync -a --delete "$src_modules"/ "$dest_modules"/ || {
+      local rsync_exit=$?
+      if [ $rsync_exit -eq 23 ]; then
+        echo "ℹ️  rsync completed with permission warnings (normal in WSL2)"
+      else
+        echo "⚠️  rsync failed with exit code $rsync_exit"
+        return $rsync_exit
+      fi
+    }
   else
     find "$dest_modules" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -exec rm -rf {} + 2>/dev/null || true
     (cd "$src_modules" && tar cf - .) | (cd "$dest_modules" && tar xf -)