diff --git a/python/packages/main/agent_framework/_workflow/_viz.py b/python/packages/main/agent_framework/_workflow/_viz.py
index 34ecd7e2be..37eafdd6d3 100644
--- a/python/packages/main/agent_framework/_workflow/_viz.py
+++ b/python/packages/main/agent_framework/_workflow/_viz.py
@@ -89,25 +89,33 @@ class WorkflowViz:
         dot_content = self.to_digraph()
         source = graphviz.Source(dot_content)
 
-        if filename:
-            # Save to specified file
-            output_path = Path(filename)
-            if output_path.suffix and output_path.suffix[1:] != format:
-                raise ValueError(f"File extension {output_path.suffix} doesn't match format {format}")
+        try:
+            if filename:
+                # Save to specified file
+                output_path = Path(filename)
+                if output_path.suffix and output_path.suffix[1:] != format:
+                    raise ValueError(f"File extension {output_path.suffix} doesn't match format {format}")
+
+                # Remove extension if present since graphviz.render() adds it
+                base_name = str(output_path.with_suffix(""))
+                source.render(base_name, format=format, cleanup=True)
+
+                # Return the actual filename with extension
+                return f"{base_name}.{format}"
+            # Create temporary file
+            with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=f".{format}", delete=False) as temp_file:
+                temp_path = Path(temp_file.name)
+                base_name = str(temp_path.with_suffix(""))
 
-            # Remove extension if present since graphviz.render() adds it
-            base_name = str(output_path.with_suffix(""))
             source.render(base_name, format=format, cleanup=True)
-
-            # Return the actual filename with extension
             return f"{base_name}.{format}"
-        # Create temporary file
-        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=f".{format}", delete=False) as temp_file:
-            temp_path = Path(temp_file.name)
-            base_name = str(temp_path.with_suffix(""))
-
-        source.render(base_name, format=format, cleanup=True)
-        return f"{base_name}.{format}"
+        except graphviz.backend.execute.ExecutableNotFound as e:
+            raise ImportError(
+                "The graphviz executables are not found. The graphviz Python package is installed, but the "
+                "graphviz executables (dot, neato, etc.) are not available on your system's PATH. "
+                "Install graphviz executables: sudo apt-get install graphviz on Debian/Ubuntu, "
+                "brew install graphviz on macOS, or download from https://graphviz.org/download/ for other platforms."
+            ) from e
 
     def save_svg(self, filename: str) -> str:
         """Convenience method to save as SVG.
diff --git a/python/packages/main/tests/workflow/test_viz.py b/python/packages/main/tests/workflow/test_viz.py
index d445343590..7c76eeeb03 100644
--- a/python/packages/main/tests/workflow/test_viz.py
+++ b/python/packages/main/tests/workflow/test_viz.py
@@ -186,6 +186,34 @@ def test_workflow_viz_unsupported_format():
         viz.export(format="invalid")  # type: ignore
 
 
+def test_workflow_viz_graphviz_binary_not_found():
+    """Test that missing graphviz binary raises ImportError with helpful message."""
+    import unittest.mock
+
+    # Skip test if graphviz package is not available
+    pytest.importorskip("graphviz")
+
+    executor1 = MockExecutor(id="executor1")
+    executor2 = MockExecutor(id="executor2")
+
+    workflow = WorkflowBuilder().add_edge(executor1, executor2).set_start_executor(executor1).build()
+    viz = WorkflowViz(workflow)
+
+    # Mock graphviz.Source.render to raise ExecutableNotFound
+    with unittest.mock.patch("graphviz.Source") as mock_source_class:
+        mock_source = unittest.mock.MagicMock()
+        mock_source_class.return_value = mock_source
+
+        # Import the ExecutableNotFound exception for the test
+        from graphviz.backend.execute import ExecutableNotFound
+
+        mock_source.render.side_effect = ExecutableNotFound("failed to execute PosixPath('dot')")
+
+        # Test that the proper ImportError is raised with helpful message
+        with pytest.raises(ImportError, match="The graphviz executables are not found"):
+            viz.export(format="svg")
+
+
 def test_workflow_viz_conditional_edge():
     """Test that conditional edges are rendered dashed with a label."""
     start = MockExecutor(id="start")