diff --git a/drb-edge-node/app/internal/call_recorder.py b/drb-edge-node/app/internal/call_recorder.py
index 9443af2..b6ca2c2 100644
--- a/drb-edge-node/app/internal/call_recorder.py
+++ b/drb-edge-node/app/internal/call_recorder.py
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ class CallRecorder:
                 stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
                 stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
             )
-            
-            # Quick check if it died immediately (e.g. Pulse source not found)
-            await asyncio.sleep(0.5)
+
+            # Brief check for an immediate crash (e.g. ffmpeg binary missing)
+            await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
             if self._process.returncode is not None:
                 _, stderr = await self._process.communicate()
                 logger.error(f"FFmpeg exited immediately ({self._process.returncode}): {stderr.decode()}")
                 return False
-            
+
             logger.info(f"Recording process started: {self._current_file.name}")
             return True
         except Exception as e:
diff --git a/drb-edge-node/app/main.py b/drb-edge-node/app/main.py
index 003f3ce..5fb7053 100644
--- a/drb-edge-node/app/main.py
+++ b/drb-edge-node/app/main.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ async def on_call_end(data: dict):
         else:
             logger.error(f"Audio upload failed for call {data['call_id']}. Verify C2_URL and Node API Key.")
     else:
-        logger.warning(f"No recording file generated for call {data['call_id']}. Is PulseAudio working?")
+        logger.warning(f"No recording file generated for call {data['call_id']} — call may have been too short or Icecast unreachable.")
     await mqtt_manager.publish_metadata("call_end", data)
     await mqtt_manager.publish_status("online")