diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 48fb05287..1a4ebfa91 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ All notable changes to solstone (the Python package) will be documented in this
 
 Format adapted from [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/), aligned with `cmo/brand/changelog-voice.md`.
 
+## [0.4.8] - 2026-06-01
+
+### Fixed
+- macos setup now tolerates a launchd race where the journal service starts and becomes healthy even though `launchctl kickstart` reports a transient error. setup trusts the supervisor readiness marker, so an upgrade can continue to observer registration instead of stopping at "service up failed".
+
 ## [0.4.7] - 2026-05-31
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index d46f7a656..02a976891 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "solstone"
-version = "0.4.7"
+version = "0.4.8"
 description = "Navigate Life Intelligently"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
diff --git a/solstone/think/service.py b/solstone/think/service.py
index cec26ffb2..2580b866f 100644
--- a/solstone/think/service.py
+++ b/solstone/think/service.py
@@ -909,7 +909,10 @@ def _up(port: int = DEFAULT_SERVICE_PORT) -> int:
         clear_ready()
         rc = _start()
         if rc != 0:
-            return rc
+            if wait_ready(timeout=READY_TIMEOUT_SECONDS) is None:
+                return rc
+            _status()
+            return 0
 
     if wait_ready(timeout=READY_TIMEOUT_SECONDS) is None:
         print(_ready_timeout_message(), file=sys.stderr)
diff --git a/tests/test_service.py b/tests/test_service.py
index 14a56c6b4..09f8b9444 100644
--- a/tests/test_service.py
+++ b/tests/test_service.py
@@ -501,6 +501,44 @@ class TestUp:
         wait_ready.assert_called_once_with(timeout=service.READY_TIMEOUT_SECONDS)
         status.assert_called_once_with()
 
+    def test_up_accepts_readiness_when_start_reports_race(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_platform", lambda: "darwin")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "service_is_installed", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "service_is_running", lambda: False)
+        start = MagicMock(return_value=1)
+        clear_ready = MagicMock()
+        wait_ready = MagicMock(return_value={"pid": 123})
+        status = MagicMock(return_value=0)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_start", start)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "clear_ready", clear_ready)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "wait_ready", wait_ready)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_status", status)
+
+        assert service._up(port=5015) == 0
+        start.assert_called_once_with()
+        clear_ready.assert_called_once_with()
+        wait_ready.assert_called_once_with(timeout=service.READY_TIMEOUT_SECONDS)
+        status.assert_called_once_with()
+
+    def test_up_preserves_start_failure_without_readiness(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_platform", lambda: "darwin")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "service_is_installed", lambda: True)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "service_is_running", lambda: False)
+        start = MagicMock(return_value=7)
+        clear_ready = MagicMock()
+        wait_ready = MagicMock(return_value=None)
+        status = MagicMock(return_value=0)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_start", start)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "clear_ready", clear_ready)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "wait_ready", wait_ready)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_status", status)
+
+        assert service._up(port=5015) == 7
+        start.assert_called_once_with()
+        clear_ready.assert_called_once_with()
+        wait_ready.assert_called_once_with(timeout=service.READY_TIMEOUT_SECONDS)
+        status.assert_not_called()
+
     def test_up_already_running_waits_for_readiness(self, monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.setattr(service, "_platform", lambda: "linux")
         monkeypatch.setattr(service, "service_is_installed", lambda: True)
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 636ae9571..c26e6abfa 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -4214,7 +4214,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "solstone"
-version = "0.4.7"
+version = "0.4.8"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "anthropic" },