diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/deploy.yaml b/.forgejo/workflows/deploy.yaml
index e6ad1b1..2ebb1f8 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/deploy.yaml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/deploy.yaml
@@ -587,7 +587,9 @@ jobs:
 
                     # Try to start it if it's stopped
                     echo "🚀 Attempting to start backend..."
-                    if timeout 30 sudo systemctl start mnemo_cards_server 2>&1; then
+                    timeout 30 sudo systemctl start mnemo_cards_server 2>&1
+                    START_EXIT_CODE=$?
+                    if [ $START_EXIT_CODE -eq 0 ]; then
                         sleep 5  # Give more time to start
                         if timeout 30 sudo systemctl is-active --quiet mnemo_cards_server; then
                             echo "✅ backend: started successfully"
@@ -596,8 +598,7 @@ jobs:
                             timeout 15 sudo systemctl status mnemo_cards_server --no-pager --lines=3 2>/dev/null || echo "Could not get status after start attempt"
                         fi
                     else
-                        echo "❌ backend start command timed out or failed"
-                        sudo systemctl start mnemo_cards_server || echo "Start command failed"
+                        echo "❌ backend start command timed out or failed (exit code: $START_EXIT_CODE)"
                     fi
                 fi