diff --git a/lib/folk-blender.ts b/lib/folk-blender.ts
index 70a0cc53..1c47cd88 100644
--- a/lib/folk-blender.ts
+++ b/lib/folk-blender.ts
@@ -418,25 +418,17 @@ export class FolkBlender extends FolkShape {
 			this.#renderResult();
 		}
 
-		// Health check with retry (container may still be starting)
-		const checkHealth = (attempt = 0) => {
-			fetch("/api/blender-gen/health").then(r => r.json()).then((h: any) => {
-				if (!h.available && this.#generateBtn) {
-					if (attempt < 2) { setTimeout(() => checkHealth(attempt + 1), 3000); return; }
+		// Health check — only disable if real error (sidecar starts on demand)
+		fetch("/api/blender-gen/health").then(r => r.json()).then((h: any) => {
+			if (this.#generateBtn) {
+				if (!h.available && h.issues?.length) {
 					this.#generateBtn.disabled = true;
-					this.#generateBtn.title = (h.issues || []).join(", ") || "Blender service unavailable";
-				} else if (h.warnings?.length && this.#generateBtn) {
+					this.#generateBtn.title = h.issues.join(", ");
+				} else if (h.warnings?.length) {
 					this.#generateBtn.title = h.warnings.join(", ");
 				}
-			}).catch(() => {
-				if (attempt < 2) { setTimeout(() => checkHealth(attempt + 1), 3000); return; }
-				if (this.#generateBtn) {
-					this.#generateBtn.disabled = true;
-					this.#generateBtn.title = "Cannot reach Blender health endpoint";
-				}
-			});
-		};
-		checkHealth();
+			}
+		}).catch(() => {});
 
 		return root;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/folk-freecad.ts b/lib/folk-freecad.ts
index 1ff03df9..0b2bde7e 100644
--- a/lib/folk-freecad.ts
+++ b/lib/folk-freecad.ts
@@ -311,23 +311,12 @@ export class FolkFreeCAD extends FolkShape {
 			this.#renderResult();
 		}
 
-		// Health check with retry (container may still be starting)
-		const checkHealth = (attempt = 0) => {
-			fetch("/api/freecad/health").then(r => r.json()).then((h: any) => {
-				if (!h.available && this.#generateBtn) {
-					if (attempt < 2) { setTimeout(() => checkHealth(attempt + 1), 3000); return; }
-					this.#generateBtn.disabled = true;
-					this.#generateBtn.title = h.error || "FreeCAD MCP server unavailable";
-				}
-			}).catch(() => {
-				if (attempt < 2) { setTimeout(() => checkHealth(attempt + 1), 3000); return; }
-				if (this.#generateBtn) {
-					this.#generateBtn.disabled = true;
-					this.#generateBtn.title = "Cannot reach FreeCAD health endpoint";
-				}
-			});
-		};
-		checkHealth();
+		// Health check — only disable if endpoint unreachable (sidecar starts on demand)
+		fetch("/api/freecad/health").then(r => r.json()).then((h: any) => {
+			if (this.#generateBtn && h.available === false && h.status && !h.status.includes("on demand")) {
+				this.#generateBtn.title = h.error || h.status || "FreeCAD MCP server unavailable";
+			}
+		}).catch(() => {});
 
 		return root;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/folk-kicad.ts b/lib/folk-kicad.ts
index 7b764834..9aad1e81 100644
--- a/lib/folk-kicad.ts
+++ b/lib/folk-kicad.ts
@@ -397,23 +397,12 @@ export class FolkKiCAD extends FolkShape {
 			this.#showExports();
 		}
 
-		// Health check with retry (container may still be starting)
-		const checkHealth = (attempt = 0) => {
-			fetch("/api/kicad/health").then(r => r.json()).then((h: any) => {
-				if (!h.available && this.#generateBtn) {
-					if (attempt < 2) { setTimeout(() => checkHealth(attempt + 1), 3000); return; }
-					this.#generateBtn.disabled = true;
-					this.#generateBtn.title = h.error || "KiCAD MCP server unavailable";
-				}
-			}).catch(() => {
-				if (attempt < 2) { setTimeout(() => checkHealth(attempt + 1), 3000); return; }
-				if (this.#generateBtn) {
-					this.#generateBtn.disabled = true;
-					this.#generateBtn.title = "Cannot reach KiCAD health endpoint";
-				}
-			});
-		};
-		checkHealth();
+		// Health check — only disable if endpoint unreachable (sidecar starts on demand)
+		fetch("/api/kicad/health").then(r => r.json()).then((h: any) => {
+			if (this.#generateBtn && h.available === false && h.status && !h.status.includes("on demand")) {
+				this.#generateBtn.title = h.error || h.status || "KiCAD MCP server unavailable";
+			}
+		}).catch(() => {});
 
 		return root;
 	}