diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 4f533e5..8dc178f 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -627,12 +627,20 @@ def setup_shared_routes(app, index_file='index.html'):
         # For MP3 input (e.g. Qt client) chunks are distributed directly — no ffmpeg needed.
         is_mp3_direct = broadcast_state.get('is_mp3_input', False)
         if not is_mp3_direct:
+            def _active_transcoder():
+                """Return True if either the WebSocket or SRT ffmpeg transcoder is alive."""
+                if _ffmpeg_proc is not None and _ffmpeg_proc.poll() is None:
+                    return True
+                if _srt_ffmpeg_proc is not None and _srt_ffmpeg_proc.poll() is None:
+                    return True
+                return False
+
             waited = 0.0
-            while (_ffmpeg_proc is None or _ffmpeg_proc.poll() is not None) and waited < 5.0:
+            while not _active_transcoder() and waited < 5.0:
                 eventlet.sleep(0.5)
                 waited += 0.5
 
-            if _ffmpeg_proc is None or _ffmpeg_proc.poll() is not None:
+            if not _active_transcoder():
                 return Response(b'', status=503, content_type='audio/mpeg', headers={
                     'Retry-After': '3',
                     'Access-Control-Allow-Origin': '*',