diff --git a/ragna/deploy/_cli/core.py b/ragna/deploy/_cli/core.py
index 985b70e5..4d4469df 100644
--- a/ragna/deploy/_cli/core.py
+++ b/ragna/deploy/_cli/core.py
@@ -131,12 +131,19 @@ def check_api_available() -> bool:
     try:
         if process is not None:
 
-            @timeout_after()
+            @timeout_after(60)
             def wait_for_api() -> None:
                 while not check_api_available():
                     time.sleep(0.5)
 
-            wait_for_api()
+            try:
+                wait_for_api()
+            except TimeoutError:
+                rich.print(
+                    "Failed to start the API in 60 seconds. "
+                    "Please start it manually with [bold]ragna api[/bold]."
+                )
+                raise typer.Exit(1)
 
         ui_app(config).serve()  # type: ignore[no-untyped-call]
     finally: