diff --git a/start.bat b/start.bat
index 992fd0b..57705ea 100644
--- a/start.bat
+++ b/start.bat
@@ -39,19 +39,22 @@ if not exist "%VENV_DIR%\Scripts\python.exe" (
 set "VPY=%VENV_DIR%\Scripts\python.exe"
 
 echo [*] Installing dependencies ...
-"%VPY%" -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check -q --upgrade pip >nul
-"%VPY%" -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check -q -r requirements.txt
+"%VPY%" -m pip install -r requirements.txt -q --dry-run
+if errorlevel 1 (
+"%VPY%" -m pip install --retries 0 --disable-pip-version-check -q --upgrade pip >nul
+"%VPY%" -m pip install --retries 0 --disable-pip-version-check -q -r requirements.txt
 if errorlevel 1 (
     echo [!] PyPI install failed. Retrying via runflare mirror ...
-    "%VPY%" -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check -q -r requirements.txt ^
-        -i https://mirror-pypi.runflare.com/simple/ ^
-        --trusted-host mirror-pypi.runflare.com
+    "%VPY%" -m pip install -r requirements.txt ^
+    -i https://mirror-pypi.runflare.com/simple/ ^
+    --trusted-host mirror-pypi.runflare.com
     if errorlevel 1 (
         echo [X] Could not install dependencies.
         pause
         exit /b 1
     )
 )
+)
 
 if not exist "config.json" (
     echo [*] No config.json found — launching setup wizard ...
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index ee37246..6ddad43 100644
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ fi
 VPY="$VENV_DIR/bin/python"
 
 echo "[*] Installing dependencies ..."
+if ! "$VPY" -m pip install -r requirements.txt -q --dry-run; then
 "$VPY" -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check -q --upgrade pip >/dev/null
 if ! "$VPY" -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check -q -r requirements.txt; then
     echo "[!] PyPI install failed. Retrying via runflare mirror ..."
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ if ! "$VPY" -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check -q -r requirements.txt; t
         -i https://mirror-pypi.runflare.com/simple/ \
         --trusted-host mirror-pypi.runflare.com
 fi
+fi
 
 if [ ! -f "config.json" ]; then
     echo "[*] No config.json found — launching setup wizard ..."