diff --git a/plugins/publish/publish_node.cpp b/plugins/publish/publish_node.cpp
index 68d8e36..57a7efc 100644
--- a/plugins/publish/publish_node.cpp
+++ b/plugins/publish/publish_node.cpp
@@ -143,10 +143,18 @@ public:
         int ret = av_interleaved_write_frame(fmt_, &out);
         av_packet_unref(&out);
         if (ret < 0 && !warned_) {
+            char errbuf[128];
+            av_strerror(ret, errbuf, sizeof(errbuf));
             std::cerr << "[publish] av_interleaved_write_frame failed for " << url_ << " ret="
-                      << ret << "\n";
+                      << ret << " (" << errbuf << ")\n";
             warned_ = true;
         }
+        // Debug: log first few frames pts
+        if (write_count_ < 5 || write_count_ % 100 == 0) {
+            std::cout << "[publish] hls write frame " << write_count_ << " pts=" << pkt.pts_ms
+                      << "ms key=" << pkt.key << " ret=" << ret << "\n";
+        }
+        ++write_count_;
         return ret >= 0;
     }
 
@@ -194,6 +202,7 @@ private:
     int fps_ = 25;
     bool ready_ = false;
     bool warned_ = false;
+    uint64_t write_count_ = 0;
 };
 
 class AvMuxerManager {
@@ -397,7 +406,10 @@ public:
             size_t len = mpp_packet_get_length(packet);
             out.data.assign(pos, pos + len);
             out.key = (mpp_packet_get_flag(packet) & 0x10) != 0;  // INTRA flag
-            out.pts_ms = mpp_packet_get_pts(packet);
+            int64_t mpp_pts = mpp_packet_get_pts(packet);
+            // Use encoder's pts if valid, otherwise compute from frame count
+            out.pts_ms = mpp_pts > 0 ? mpp_pts : static_cast<int64_t>(frame_count_ * 1000 / fps_);
+            ++frame_count_;
             if (on_packet) on_packet(out);
             mpp_packet_deinit(&packet);
             break;
@@ -471,6 +483,7 @@ private:
     int bitrate_bps_ = 4000000;
     std::vector<uint8_t> header_;
     bool initialized_ = false;
+    uint64_t frame_count_ = 0;
 };
 #endif