diff --git a/service.v b/service.v
index 7eae002..adb00c7 100644
--- a/service.v
+++ b/service.v
@@ -37,14 +37,12 @@ pub fn service_install(config_path string, quiet bool) ! {
 		}
 		println('  Using nssm: ${nssm_exe}')
 
-		// Remove previous installs (both sc.exe and nssm)
-		os.execute('sc stop ${name} 2>nul')
-		os.execute('sc delete ${name} 2>nul')
+		// Clean up previous nssm install (NOT sc.exe — sc.exe can cause "marked for deletion")
 		os.execute('"${nssm_exe}" stop ${name} 2>nul')
 		os.execute('"${nssm_exe}" remove ${name} confirm 2>nul')
 
-		// Wait for SCM to release any "marked for deletion" state
-		time.sleep(1 * time.second)
+		// Wait for SCM to release
+		time.sleep(2 * time.second)
 
 		// Install the service (retry up to 3 times for "marked for deletion")
 		mut installed := false