diff --git a/start.py b/start.py
index f224b9e6c..017fe5cd5 100755
--- a/start.py
+++ b/start.py
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ import startservers
 if not startservers.install(race_detection=False):
     raise(Exception("failed to build"))
 
+fl = "./labca/setup_complete"
+while not os.path.exists(fl):
+    print(f"Waiting for '{fl}' to appear...")
+    time.sleep(30)
+
 if not startservers.start(fakeclock=None):
     sys.exit(1)
 try: