diff --git a/ethend.bat b/ethend.bat
index a64af94..9a4ca8d 100644
--- a/ethend.bat
+++ b/ethend.bat
@@ -117,16 +117,7 @@ if %DO_FRESH%==1 (
     curl -s -X POST "http://localhost:%ETHEND_PORT%/api/services/start-all-fresh" >nul 2>&1
 )
 
-:: Check if already running
-curl -s -o nul "http://localhost:%ETHEND_PORT%/api/health" 2>nul
-if %ERRORLEVEL%==0 (
-    echo.
-    echo [OK] ethend already running: http://localhost:%ETHEND_PORT%
-    echo     API: http://localhost:%ETHEND_PORT%/api/health
-    exit /b 0
-)
-
-:: Check port conflict
+:: Check if port already in use
 set FOUND_PID=
 for /f "tokens=5" %%a in ('netstat -ano ^| findstr /R ":%ETHEND_PORT% " ^| findstr "LISTENING"') do set FOUND_PID=%%a
 if not "%FOUND_PID%"=="" (
@@ -135,6 +126,7 @@ if not "%FOUND_PID%"=="" (
     set /p CHOICE="Kill old process and restart? [Y/n]: "
     if /i "!CHOICE!"=="n" (
         echo [INFO] Aborted by user.
+        pause
         exit /b 0
     )
     echo [INFO] Killing PID %FOUND_PID%...