diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 846df60..3bec63f 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # Start FastAPI backend + Next.js frontend in the same container.
-# Uvicorn runs in the background; Node.js runs in the foreground
-# so that Docker gets its exit signal from the primary process.
+# Both processes log to stdout/stderr so Docker captures everything.
 
 set -e
 
-echo "Starting FastAPI backend on :8000 ..."
-uvicorn web.app:app --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8000 --workers 1 &
+echo "[start.sh] Starting FastAPI backend on :8000 ..."
+uvicorn web.app:app --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8000 --workers 1 2>&1 &
 UVICORN_PID=$!
 
-echo "Starting Next.js frontend on :3000 ..."
-exec node server.js
+# Give uvicorn a moment to start (or crash)
+sleep 2
+
+if ! kill -0 $UVICORN_PID 2>/dev/null; then
+  echo "[start.sh] ERROR: uvicorn failed to start!"
+  # Don't exit — let Node.js run so the UI is accessible for debugging
+fi
+
+echo "[start.sh] Starting Next.js frontend on :3000 ..."
+node server.js