diff --git a/server/src/main.rs b/server/src/main.rs
index 6613abd..a761b8f 100644
--- a/server/src/main.rs
+++ b/server/src/main.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use tokio::{fs::{OpenOptions}, io::AsyncWriteExt, sync::Mutex};
 use tokio_stream::{wrappers::ReceiverStream};
 use tonic::{transport::Server, Request, Response, Status}; 
 use anyhow::Context as _;
-use tracing::{info, trace, warn};
+use tracing::{info, trace, warn, error};
 use tracing_subscriber::{filter::EnvFilter, fmt, prelude::*};
 use tracing_appender::non_blocking;
 use tracing_appender::non_blocking::WorkerGuard;
@@ -50,6 +50,32 @@ fn init_tracing() -> anyhow::Result<WorkerGuard> {
     Ok(guard)
 }
 
+async fn open_with_retry(
+    path: &str,
+    retries: usize,
+    delay_ms: u64,
+) -> anyhow::Result<tokio::fs::File> {
+    for attempt in 0..=retries {
+        match OpenOptions::new()
+            .write(true)
+            .custom_flags(libc::O_NONBLOCK)
+            .open(path)
+            .await
+        {
+            Ok(f) => {
+                info!("✅ opened {path} on attempt #{attempt}");
+                return Ok(f);
+            }
+            Err(e) if attempt < retries => {
+                warn!("🕒 {path} not ready ({e}); retrying… #{attempt}");    // will retry
+                tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(delay_ms)).await;
+            }
+            Err(e) => return Err(e).with_context(|| format!("giving up on {path}")),
+        }
+    }
+    unreachable!()
+}
+
 /*─────────────────── tonic service ─────────────────────*/
 struct Handler {
     kb: Arc<Mutex<tokio::fs::File>>,
@@ -63,14 +89,8 @@ impl Handler {
         gadget.cycle()?;
         tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
 
-        let kb = OpenOptions::new()
-            .write(true).custom_flags(libc::O_NONBLOCK)
-            .open("/dev/hidg0").await
-            .context("opening /dev/hidg0")?;
-        let ms = OpenOptions::new()
-            .write(true).custom_flags(libc::O_NONBLOCK)
-            .open("/dev/hidg1").await
-            .context("opening /dev/hidg1")?;
+        let kb = open_with_retry("/dev/hidg0", 10, 100).await?;
+        let ms = open_with_retry("/dev/hidg1", 10, 100).await?;
 
         Ok(Self { kb: Arc::new(Mutex::new(kb)),
                   ms: Arc::new(Mutex::new(ms)),
@@ -219,10 +239,15 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     //     }
     // });
 
-    println!("🌐 lesavka-server listening on 0.0.0.0:50051");
-    Server::builder()
-        .add_service(RelayServer::new(handler))
-        .serve(([0, 0, 0, 0], 50051).into())
-        .await?;
+    info!("🌐 lesavka‑server listening on 0.0.0.0:50051");
+
+    if let Err(e) = Server::builder()
+            .add_service(RelayServer::new(handler))
+            .serve(([0, 0, 0, 0], 50051).into())
+            .await
+    {
+        error!("💥 gRPC server exited: {e:#}");
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }
     Ok(())
 }