diff --git a/src/back/index.ts b/src/back/index.ts
index 992ad74..0f3cfef 100644
--- a/src/back/index.ts
+++ b/src/back/index.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ void (async function () {
 		console.error(error);
 		if (SEALIOUS_SANITY) {
 			console.error("EXITING WITH STATUS 1");
-			process.exit(1);
 		}
+		// we need to always exit with an error status so the systemd unit knows to restart
+		process.exit(1);
 	}
 })();