diff --git a/scripts/dev-start.ps1 b/scripts/dev-start.ps1
index 862c758..f00c475 100644
--- a/scripts/dev-start.ps1
+++ b/scripts/dev-start.ps1
@@ -52,7 +52,17 @@ try {
 # Start PostgreSQL container
 Write-Host "Starting PostgreSQL..."
 $composeFile = Join-Path $root 'compose/dev.yml'
+
 podman-compose -f $composeFile up -d 2>$null
+$composeExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE
+if ($composeExitCode -ne 0) {
+    podman container exists likwid-postgres 2>$null
+    $containerExistsExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE
+    if ($containerExistsExitCode -ne 0) {
+        throw "Failed to start PostgreSQL via podman-compose (exit code: $composeExitCode)."
+    }
+    Write-Host "Warning: podman-compose returned exit code $composeExitCode, but likwid-postgres exists. Continuing."
+}
 
 # Wait for PostgreSQL to be ready
 $maxWait = 30