diff --git a/.yarn/changelogs/service.38497d1d.md b/.yarn/changelogs/service.38497d1d.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0946a88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.yarn/changelogs/service.38497d1d.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+<!-- version-type: patch -->
+# service
+
+<!--
+FORMATTING GUIDE:
+
+### Detailed Entry (appears first when merging)
+
+Use h3 (###) and below for detailed entries with paragraphs, code examples, and lists.
+
+### Simple List Items
+
+- Simple changes can be added as list items
+- They are collected together at the bottom of each section
+
+TIP: When multiple changelog drafts are merged, heading-based entries
+appear before simple list items within each section.
+-->
+
+## ✨ Features
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe your shiny new features (feat:) -->
+
+## 🐛 Bug Fixes
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe the nasty little bugs that has been eradicated (fix:) -->
+
+## 📚 Documentation
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe documentation changes (docs:) -->
+
+## ⚡ Performance
+ - Improved service startup performance with parallel REST API initialization and deferred stale process detection
+
+## ♻️ Refactoring
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe code refactoring (refactor:) -->
+
+## 🧪 Tests
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe test changes (test:) -->
+
+## 📦 Build
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe build system changes (build:) -->
+
+## 👷 CI
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe CI configuration changes (ci:) -->
+
+## ⬆️ Dependencies
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe dependency updates (deps:) -->
+
+## 🔧 Chores
+<!-- PLACEHOLDER: Describe other changes (chore:) -->
diff --git a/.yarn/versions/38497d1d.yml b/.yarn/versions/38497d1d.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16da3cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.yarn/versions/38497d1d.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+releases:
+  service: patch
+
+declined:
+  - stack-craft
diff --git a/service/src/service.ts b/service/src/service.ts
index c23c1e2..d239e02 100644
--- a/service/src/service.ts
+++ b/service/src/service.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@ import { encryptExistingSecrets } from './utils/encrypt-existing-secrets.js'
 const host = getHost()
 const port = getPort()
 
+const logStartupError = (scope: string, error: unknown): void => {
+  getLogger(injector)
+    .withScope(scope)
+    .error({
+      message: `Background startup task failed: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`,
+      data: { error },
+    })
+    .catch(() => console.error(`Background startup task failed (logger unavailable) [${scope}]`, error))
+}
+
 const setupRestApis = async () => {
   await setupDataStore(injector)
   await setupLogStore(injector)
@@ -36,21 +46,26 @@ const setupRestApis = async () => {
 
   injector.get(ExternalGitChangeListener).start()
 
+  // Stale-state cleanup and secret re-encryption don't gate REST availability — run them
+  // in the background so HTTP can start accepting requests sooner.
   const processManager = injector.get(ProcessManager)
-  await processManager.reconcileStaleStates()
+  void processManager.reconcileStaleStates().catch((error) => logStartupError('StaleStateReconciler', error))
 
-  await usingAsync(useSystemIdentityContext({ injector }), async (elevated) => {
+  void usingAsync(useSystemIdentityContext({ injector }), async (elevated) => {
     await encryptExistingSecrets(elevated)
-  })
+  }).catch((error) => logStartupError('EncryptExistingSecrets', error))
 
-  await setupInstallRestApi(injector)
-  await setupIdentityRestApi(injector)
-  await setupStacksRestApi(injector)
-  await setupServicesRestApi(injector)
-  await setupGitHubReposRestApi(injector)
-  await setupPrerequisitesRestApi(injector)
-  await setupTokensRestApi(injector)
-  await setupSystemRestApi(injector)
+  // Each module registers its own route group independently, so they can be set up concurrently.
+  await Promise.all([
+    setupInstallRestApi(injector),
+    setupIdentityRestApi(injector),
+    setupStacksRestApi(injector),
+    setupServicesRestApi(injector),
+    setupGitHubReposRestApi(injector),
+    setupPrerequisitesRestApi(injector),
+    setupTokensRestApi(injector),
+    setupSystemRestApi(injector),
+  ])
 
   const wsService = injector.get(WebsocketService)
   await wsService.init(injector)