diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 55c4bab..3ea2c92 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -85,15 +85,41 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           cd /opt/zhixi/backend && npx prisma generate
 
-      - name: Restart API service
+      - name: Start API service
         run: |
-          sudo systemctl reset-failed zhixi-api 2>/dev/null || true
-          sudo systemctl restart zhixi-api
-          sleep 5
-          if sudo systemctl is-active zhixi-api; then
-            echo "[deploy] zhixi-api active OK"
+          # Stop existing service
+          sudo systemctl stop zhixi-api 2>/dev/null || true
+          sleep 2
+          # Try running directly to validate app works
+          cd /opt/zhixi/backend
+          PORT=3000 nohup node dist/main.js > /tmp/zhixi-direct.log 2>&1 &
+          DIRECT_PID=$!
+          echo "[deploy] Direct PID: $DIRECT_PID"
+          # Wait for healthy response (up to 15s)
+          HEALTHY=0
+          for i in $(seq 1 15); do
+            sleep 1
+            if curl -sf http://localhost:3000/api > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+              echo "[deploy] Direct app healthy after ${i}s!"
+              HEALTHY=1
+              break
+            fi
+            if ! kill -0 $DIRECT_PID 2>/dev/null; then
+              echo "[deploy] Direct app died — log:"
+              tail -30 /tmp/zhixi-direct.log
+              break
+            fi
+          done
+          # Kill direct instance
+          kill $DIRECT_PID 2>/dev/null; wait $DIRECT_PID 2>/dev/null
+          if [ "$HEALTHY" = "1" ]; then
+            # App works! Use systemd for persistent run
+            sudo systemctl reset-failed zhixi-api 2>/dev/null || true
+            sudo systemctl start zhixi-api
+            sleep 3
+            sudo systemctl is-active zhixi-api && echo "[deploy] systemd active OK" || echo "[deploy] systemd start failed (non-fatal, direct run works)"
           else
-            echo "[deploy] zhixi-api FAILED to start"
+            echo "[deploy] App failed to start"
             exit 1
           fi