diff --git a/nvcurve/server.py b/nvcurve/server.py
index 1a9466a..4d21538 100644
--- a/nvcurve/server.py
+++ b/nvcurve/server.py
@@ -2610,7 +2610,11 @@ def run(
 
     # Fail fast if the port is already in use — silently shifting ports breaks
     # client discovery. Users should configure a different port explicitly.
+    # SO_REUSEADDR mirrors uvicorn's own bind: without it, TIME_WAIT sockets
+    # left by a just-stopped instance (~60s) would fail this check even though
+    # uvicorn could bind fine, forcing a wait on every restart.
     with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
+        s.setsockopt(socket.SOL_SOCKET, socket.SO_REUSEADDR, 1)
         try:
             s.bind((host, port))
         except OSError: