diff --git a/scripts/dependencies.sh b/scripts/dependencies.sh
index 88bcdf2826..c630374491 100755
--- a/scripts/dependencies.sh
+++ b/scripts/dependencies.sh
@@ -47,6 +47,23 @@ function setup_llvm_deps() {
 }
 
 function compile_cairo_native_runtime() {
+    # First we need to make sure Cargo exists
+    if command -v cargo >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        echo "Rust is already installed with cargo available in PATH."
+    else
+        echo "cargo not found. Installing Rust..."
+        if ! curl -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh -s -- -y --no-modify-path; then
+            echo >&2 "Failed to install Rust. Aborting."
+            return 1
+        fi
+        # shellcheck disable=SC1090
+        source "$HOME/.cargo/env" || {
+            echo >&2 "Failed to source Rust environment. Aborting."
+            return 1
+        }
+    fi
+
+    # Then we clone and build the runtime from the repo
     git clone https://github.com/lambdaclass/cairo_native.git
     pushd ./cairo_native || exit 1
     git switch v0.2.0-alpha.2 --detach