diff --git a/decnet/cli.py b/decnet/cli.py
index 7226538..047ba9c 100644
--- a/decnet/cli.py
+++ b/decnet/cli.py
@@ -106,19 +106,20 @@ def api(
     # can signal the whole tree on Ctrl+C. Without this, only the supervisor
     # receives SIGINT from the terminal and worker children may survive and
     # be respawned — the "forkbomb" ANTI hit during testing.
-    proc = subprocess.Popen(_cmd, env=_env, start_new_session=True)  # nosec B603 B404
     try:
-        proc.wait()
-    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        proc = subprocess.Popen(_cmd, env=_env, start_new_session=True)  # nosec B603 B404
         try:
-            os.killpg(proc.pid, signal.SIGTERM)
+            proc.wait()
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
             try:
-                proc.wait(timeout=10)
-            except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
-                os.killpg(proc.pid, signal.SIGKILL)
-                proc.wait()
-        except ProcessLookupError:
-            pass
+                os.killpg(proc.pid, signal.SIGTERM)
+                try:
+                    proc.wait(timeout=10)
+                except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+                    os.killpg(proc.pid, signal.SIGKILL)
+                    proc.wait()
+            except ProcessLookupError:
+                pass
     except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.SubprocessError):
         console.print("[red]Failed to start API. Ensure 'uvicorn' is installed in the current environment.[/]")
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 36ca5f4..23df3aa 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -325,13 +325,19 @@ class TestCorrelateCommand:
 # ── api command ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 class TestApiCommand:
-    @patch("subprocess.run", side_effect=KeyboardInterrupt)
-    def test_api_keyboard_interrupt(self, mock_run):
+    @patch("os.killpg")
+    @patch("subprocess.Popen")
+    def test_api_keyboard_interrupt(self, mock_popen, mock_killpg):
+        proc = MagicMock()
+        proc.wait.side_effect = [KeyboardInterrupt, 0]
+        proc.pid = 4321
+        mock_popen.return_value = proc
         result = runner.invoke(app, ["api"])
         assert result.exit_code == 0
+        mock_killpg.assert_called()
 
-    @patch("subprocess.run", side_effect=FileNotFoundError)
-    def test_api_not_found(self, mock_run):
+    @patch("subprocess.Popen", side_effect=FileNotFoundError)
+    def test_api_not_found(self, mock_popen):
         result = runner.invoke(app, ["api"])
         assert result.exit_code == 0