diff --git a/server/src/main/kotlin/suwayomi/tachidesk/server/util/AppExit.kt b/server/src/main/kotlin/suwayomi/tachidesk/server/util/AppExit.kt
index 871e6a544..41ca249da 100644
--- a/server/src/main/kotlin/suwayomi/tachidesk/server/util/AppExit.kt
+++ b/server/src/main/kotlin/suwayomi/tachidesk/server/util/AppExit.kt
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ enum class ExitCode(val code: Int) {
     Success(0),
     MutexCheckFailedTachideskRunning(1),
     MutexCheckFailedAnotherAppRunning(2),
+    WebUISetupFailure(3),
 }
 
 fun shutdownApp(exitCode: ExitCode) {
diff --git a/server/src/main/kotlin/suwayomi/tachidesk/server/util/WebInterfaceManager.kt b/server/src/main/kotlin/suwayomi/tachidesk/server/util/WebInterfaceManager.kt
index 77fe1d669..94826a56d 100644
--- a/server/src/main/kotlin/suwayomi/tachidesk/server/util/WebInterfaceManager.kt
+++ b/server/src/main/kotlin/suwayomi/tachidesk/server/util/WebInterfaceManager.kt
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ import suwayomi.tachidesk.graphql.types.WebUIUpdateStatus
 import suwayomi.tachidesk.server.ApplicationDirs
 import suwayomi.tachidesk.server.generated.BuildConfig
 import suwayomi.tachidesk.server.serverConfig
+import suwayomi.tachidesk.server.util.ExitCode.WebUISetupFailure
 import suwayomi.tachidesk.util.HAScheduler
 import uy.kohesive.injekt.Injekt
 import uy.kohesive.injekt.api.get
@@ -291,7 +292,15 @@ object WebInterfaceManager {
         }
 
         logger.warn { "setupWebUI: no webUI files found, starting download..." }
-        doInitialSetup()
+        try {
+            doInitialSetup()
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            logger.error(e) {
+                "Failed to setup the webUI. Unable to start the server with a served webUI, change the settings to start" +
+                    "without one. Stopping the server now..."
+            }
+            shutdownApp(WebUISetupFailure)
+        }
     }
 
     /**