diff --git a/lua/opencode/core.lua b/lua/opencode/core.lua
index b36546e3..a0457cdf 100644
--- a/lua/opencode/core.lua
+++ b/lua/opencode/core.lua
@@ -85,7 +85,17 @@ M.open = Promise.async(function(opts)
     ui.focus_output({ restore_position = are_windows_closed })
   end
 
-  local server = server_job.ensure_server():await()
+  local server
+  local server_ok, server_err = pcall(function()
+    server = server_job.ensure_server():await()
+  end)
+
+  if not server_ok or not server then
+    state.is_opening = false
+    vim.notify('Failed to start opencode server: ' .. tostring(server_err or 'Unknown error'), vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    return Promise.new():reject(server_err or 'Server failed to start')
+  end
+
   state.opencode_server = server
 
   local ok, err = pcall(function()
diff --git a/lua/opencode/opencode_server.lua b/lua/opencode/opencode_server.lua
index 23bb534f..293255d1 100644
--- a/lua/opencode/opencode_server.lua
+++ b/lua/opencode/opencode_server.lua
@@ -100,9 +100,21 @@ function OpencodeServer:spawn(opts)
       end
     end,
     stderr = function(err, data)
-      if err or data then
-        self.spawn_promise:reject(err or data)
-        safe_call(opts.on_error, err or data)
+      if err then
+        self.spawn_promise:reject(err)
+        safe_call(opts.on_error, err)
+        return
+      end
+      if data then
+        -- Filter out INFO/WARN/DEBUG log lines (not actual errors)
+        local log_level = data:match('^%s*(%u+)%s')
+        if log_level and (log_level == 'INFO' or log_level == 'WARN' or log_level == 'DEBUG') then
+          -- Ignore log lines, don't reject
+          return
+        end
+        -- Only reject on actual errors
+        self.spawn_promise:reject(data)
+        safe_call(opts.on_error, data)
       end
     end,
   }, function(exit_opts)