diff --git a/start.py b/start.py
index 51cbc9c..68b7ee7 100644
--- a/start.py
+++ b/start.py
@@ -64,8 +64,12 @@ def start_daemon():
         return
 
     print("🚀 Starting SexChat in background...")
+    gunicorn_bin = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".venv", "bin", "gunicorn")
+    if not os.path.exists(gunicorn_bin):
+        gunicorn_bin = "gunicorn" # fallback
+
     cmd = [
-        "gunicorn",
+        gunicorn_bin,
         "--worker-class", "eventlet",
         "-w", "1",
         "--bind", f"{_get_conf('HOST', '0.0.0.0')}:{_get_conf('PORT', 5000)}",
@@ -120,8 +124,12 @@ def get_status():
 
 def run_debug():
     print("🛠️ Starting SexChat in DEBUG mode (foreground)...")
+    gunicorn_bin = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".venv", "bin", "gunicorn")
+    if not os.path.exists(gunicorn_bin):
+        gunicorn_bin = "gunicorn" # fallback
+
     cmd = [
-        "gunicorn",
+        gunicorn_bin,
         "--worker-class", "eventlet",
         "-w", "1",
         "--bind", f"{_get_conf('HOST', '0.0.0.0')}:{_get_conf('PORT', 5000)}",