diff --git a/napalm_opnsense/opnsense.py b/napalm_opnsense/opnsense.py
index ab8af25..4c61e01 100644
--- a/napalm_opnsense/opnsense.py
+++ b/napalm_opnsense/opnsense.py
@@ -1555,13 +1555,28 @@ class OPNsenseDriver(FirewallDriver):
         """
         lines: list = []
 
-        # 1. Install os-net-snmp plugin
+        # 1. Install os-net-snmp plugin ONLY if not already present.
+        # Calling firmware/install on an already-installed plugin triggers an
+        # async reinstall that overwrites the config with factory defaults a few
+        # minutes later — causing SNMP to stop working again after the fix.
+        plugin_installed = False
         try:
-            result = self._post("/api/core/firmware/install/os-net-snmp")
-            lines.append(f"[install] {result}")
-        except Exception as exc:
-            logger.debug("os-net-snmp install skipped or failed: %s", exc)
-            lines.append(f"[install] already installed or skipped")
+            chk = self._get("/api/netsnmp/general/get")
+            plugin_installed = isinstance(chk, dict) and "general" in chk
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+        if not plugin_installed:
+            try:
+                result = self._post("/api/core/firmware/install/os-net-snmp")
+                lines.append(f"[install] {result}")
+                import time as _time
+                _time.sleep(5)  # wait for install to settle
+            except Exception as exc:
+                logger.debug("os-net-snmp install failed: %s", exc)
+                lines.append(f"[install] failed: {exc}")
+        else:
+            lines.append("[install] os-net-snmp already installed — skipping reinstall")
 
         # 2. Configure SNMP
         try:
@@ -1628,16 +1643,40 @@ class OPNsenseDriver(FirewallDriver):
             logger.debug("Firewall rule for SNMP failed: %s", exc)
             lines.append(f"[firewall] error: {exc}")
 
-        # 5. Verify SNMP config
+        # 5. Verify — try actual UDP/161 probe first, fall back to API config check
+        success = False
         try:
-            cfg = self._get("/api/netsnmp/general/get")
-            general = cfg.get("general", cfg)
-            success = str(general.get("enabled", "0")) == "1" and bool(general.get("community"))
+            import socket as _socket
+            sock = _socket.socket(_socket.AF_INET, _socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
+            sock.settimeout(3)
+            community = b"public"
+            # Minimal SNMPv2c GetRequest for sysDescr
+            pdu = (b"\x30\x26\x02\x01\x01\x04"
+                   + bytes([len(community)]) + community
+                   + b"\xa0\x19\x02\x04\x00\x00\x00\x01"
+                   + b"\x02\x01\x00\x02\x01\x00"
+                   + b"\x30\x0b\x30\x09\x06\x05\x2b\x06\x01\x02\x01\x05\x00")
+            sock.sendto(pdu, (self.hostname, 161))
+            try:
+                data, _ = sock.recvfrom(1024)
+                success = len(data) > 0
+                lines.append("[ok] SNMP UDP probe successful.")
+            except _socket.timeout:
+                lines.append("[warn] SNMP UDP probe timed out — service may be starting.")
+            finally:
+                sock.close()
         except Exception as exc:
-            logger.debug("SNMP verification failed: %s", exc)
-            success = False
+            logger.debug("SNMP UDP probe failed: %s", exc)
+            # Fall back to API config check
+            try:
+                cfg = self._get("/api/netsnmp/general/get")
+                general = cfg.get("general", cfg)
+                success = str(general.get("enabled", "0")) == "1" and bool(general.get("community"))
+                lines.append("[ok] SNMP config active (UDP probe unavailable)." if success
+                             else "[warn] SNMP config check failed.")
+            except Exception:
+                lines.append("[warn] Could not verify SNMP state.")
 
-        lines.append("[ok] SNMP active." if success else "[warn] Could not verify SNMP state.")
         return {"success": success, "output": "\n".join(lines)}
 
     def get_firewall_aliases(self) -> list[dict[str, Any]]: