diff --git a/src/file_manipulator.py b/src/file_manipulator.py
index b7815cc..04ebcb1 100644
--- a/src/file_manipulator.py
+++ b/src/file_manipulator.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import os
 from src.filler import Filler
 from src.llm import LLM
-from commonforms import prepare_form
+from src.pdf_template import prepare_form_safe
 
 
 class FileManipulator:
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def create_template(self, pdf_path: str):
         By using commonforms, we create an editable .pdf template and we store it.
         """
         template_path = pdf_path[:-4] + "_template.pdf"
-        prepare_form(pdf_path, template_path)
+        prepare_form_safe(pdf_path, template_path)
         return template_path
 
     def fill_form(self, user_input: str, fields: list, pdf_form_path: str):
diff --git a/src/pdf_template.py b/src/pdf_template.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad02aae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pdf_template.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+"""PDF template preparation abstraction.
+
+Why this exists:
+- `commonforms` pulls in heavy runtime deps (ultralytics -> cv2 -> numpy).
+- In minimal/server environments this can hard-crash the interpreter during import.
+- FireForm only needs `commonforms.prepare_form()` for template creation.
+
+This module provides a safe wrapper that:
+- imports `commonforms` lazily (only when template creation is requested)
+- raises a clear Python exception instead of crashing at app import time
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Protocol
+
+
+class TemplatePreparer(Protocol):
+    def __call__(self, input_pdf_path: str, output_pdf_path: str) -> None:
+        ...
+
+
+def prepare_form_safe(input_pdf_path: str, output_pdf_path: str) -> None:
+    """Prepare a PDF template using `commonforms` via a lazy import.
+
+    Raises:
+        RuntimeError: if `commonforms` cannot be imported or fails at runtime.
+    """
+
+    try:
+        from commonforms import prepare_form as _prepare_form  # type: ignore
+    except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover
+        # Catch broad exceptions because some environments segfault or raise
+        # low-level import errors when image dependencies are missing.
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            "Failed to import `commonforms`. Template creation requires the optional "
+            "commonforms + OpenCV runtime dependencies. "
+            "If running in Docker, ensure libgl1/libglib2.0-0 are installed."
+        ) from e
+
+    try:
+        _prepare_form(input_pdf_path, output_pdf_path)
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"Template preparation failed for '{input_pdf_path}'."
+        ) from e
diff --git a/tests/test_commonforms_lazy_import.py b/tests/test_commonforms_lazy_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8078107
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_commonforms_lazy_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import importlib
+
+
+def test_importing_api_main_does_not_eagerly_import_commonforms(monkeypatch):
+    """Regression test for environments where commonforms (cv2/numpy) crashes.
+
+    The FastAPI app should be importable without importing `commonforms`.
+    Template creation should be the only place that tries to import it.
+    """
+
+    def _fail_import(name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=(), level=0):
+        if name == "commonforms":
+            raise ImportError("commonforms should not be imported at app import time")
+        return original_import(name, globals, locals, fromlist, level)
+
+    original_import = __builtins__["__import__"]
+    monkeypatch.setitem(__builtins__, "__import__", _fail_import)
+
+    # Should not raise
+    importlib.import_module("api.main")
diff --git a/tests/test_templates.py b/tests/test_templates.py
index bbced2b..a3015dc 100644
--- a/tests/test_templates.py
+++ b/tests/test_templates.py
@@ -1,4 +1,14 @@
-def test_create_template(client):
+import pytest
+
+
+def test_create_template(client, monkeypatch):
+    # Patch at the usage site: api.routes.templates imports Controller
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "api.routes.templates.Controller.create_template",
+        lambda _self, _pdf_path: "src/inputs/file_template.pdf",
+        raising=True,
+    )
+
     payload = {
         "name": "Template 1",
         "pdf_path": "src/inputs/file.pdf",