diff --git a/apps/api/src/index.ts b/apps/api/src/index.ts
index 5c8625a..c9e791d 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/index.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/index.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,14 @@ if (isMainModule()) {
   const vapidPublicKey = process.env.VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY ?? ''
   const vapidPrivateKey = process.env.VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY ?? ''
   if (vapidSubject && vapidPublicKey && vapidPrivateKey) {
-    webpush.setVapidDetails(vapidSubject, vapidPublicKey, vapidPrivateKey)
+    try {
+      webpush.setVapidDetails(vapidSubject, vapidPublicKey, vapidPrivateKey)
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.warn(
+        '[startup] setVapidDetails failed — push notifications will not work:',
+        err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err),
+      )
+    }
   } else {
     console.warn('[startup] VAPID env vars not set — push notifications will fail. Set VAPID_SUBJECT, VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY, VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY.')
   }