diff --git a/nvcurve/hal/gpu.py b/nvcurve/hal/gpu.py
index 5e9b1ca..d206ab7 100644
--- a/nvcurve/hal/gpu.py
+++ b/nvcurve/hal/gpu.py
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ def init_nvapi() -> None:
     """Initialize NvAPI. Must be called before any GPU operations."""
     init_fn = query_interface(FUNC["Initialize"], nargs=0)
     if not init_fn or init_fn() != 0:
-        print("NvAPI_Initialize failed")
-        sys.exit(1)
+        raise RuntimeError("NvAPI_Initialize failed")
 
 
 def enumerate_gpus() -> tuple[ctypes.Array, int]:
diff --git a/nvcurve/profiles/apply.py b/nvcurve/profiles/apply.py
index f5c1031..a3068c6 100644
--- a/nvcurve/profiles/apply.py
+++ b/nvcurve/profiles/apply.py
@@ -162,10 +162,18 @@ def run_autoload() -> None:
     from ..hal.gpu import init_nvapi, discover_gpus
     from ..hal.monitoring import init_nvml, shutdown_nvml
 
-    try:
-        init_nvapi()
-    except Exception as exc:
-        log.error("Failed to initialize NvAPI: %s", exc)
+    # Retry NvAPI init — the driver may not be fully ready at early boot.
+    nvapi_ready = False
+    for attempt in range(1, 17):
+        try:
+            init_nvapi()
+            nvapi_ready = True
+            break
+        except Exception as exc:
+            log.warning("NvAPI init attempt %d/16 failed: %s", attempt, exc)
+            time.sleep(2)
+    if not nvapi_ready:
+        log.error("Failed to initialize NvAPI after 16 attempts.")
         sys.exit(1)
 
     init_nvml()  # best-effort