diff --git a/bash/zstart b/bash/zstart
index 7780e87..a3b540b 100644
--- a/bash/zstart
+++ b/bash/zstart
@@ -66,10 +66,12 @@ start_prep() {  # <key>
     dim "  env $name=$val"
   done < <(jq -r --arg k "$key" '.projects[$k].start.env // {} | to_entries[] | "\(.key)\t\(.value)"' "$ZCONFIG")
   if [ "$(zproj "$key" .start.gitPull)" = "true" ] && [ -d "$root/.git" ]; then
-    local last
-    last="$( (cd "$root" && git pull --ff-only 2>&1) | tail -1 )"
-    dim "  git pull: $last"
-    (cd "$root" && git rev-parse HEAD >/dev/null 2>&1) || warn "  Auto-pull failed - run 'git pull' manually if needed."
+    # GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0 so a repo that needs credentials fails fast instead
+    # of blocking the server start on an interactive "Username for ..." prompt.
+    local out rc
+    out="$( (cd "$root" && GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0 git pull --ff-only 2>&1) )"; rc=$?
+    dim "  git pull: $(printf '%s\n' "$out" | tail -1)"
+    [ "$rc" -eq 0 ] || warn "  Auto-pull skipped (exit $rc) - starting with the current checkout. (git needs credentials here, or set start.gitPull=false)"
   fi
 }
 
diff --git a/zstart.ps1 b/zstart.ps1
index eaada37..363d23d 100644
--- a/zstart.ps1
+++ b/zstart.ps1
@@ -199,14 +199,18 @@ function Invoke-ProjectStartPrep {
     }
     if ($Proj.start.gitPull -and (Test-Path (Join-Path $Proj.localRoot ".git"))) {
         Push-Location -LiteralPath $Proj.localRoot
+        # GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0 so a repo that needs credentials fails fast
+        # instead of blocking the server start on a "Username for ..." prompt.
+        $prev = $env:GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT; $env:GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT = "0"
         try {
             $pullOut = git pull --ff-only 2>&1
             $last = ($pullOut | Select-Object -Last 1)
             Write-Host "  git pull: $last" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
-                Write-Host "  Auto-pull failed - run 'git pull' manually if needed." -ForegroundColor Yellow
+                Write-Host "  Auto-pull skipped - starting with the current checkout. (git needs credentials here, or set start.gitPull=false)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
             }
         } finally {
+            $env:GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT = $prev
             Pop-Location
         }
     }