diff --git a/scripts/smart-install.js b/scripts/smart-install.js
index 3e18123b..8fa42728 100644
--- a/scripts/smart-install.js
+++ b/scripts/smart-install.js
@@ -209,39 +209,6 @@ function runNpmInstall() {
   }
 }
 
-function startWorker() {
-  const ECOSYSTEM_CONFIG = join(PLUGIN_ROOT, 'ecosystem.config.cjs');
-  const PM2_PATH = join(PLUGIN_ROOT, 'node_modules', '.bin', 'pm2');
-
-  log('🚀 Starting worker service...', colors.dim);
-
-  try {
-    // Use the full path to PM2 to avoid PATH issues on Windows
-    // PM2 will either start it or report it's already running (both are success cases)
-    execSync(`"${PM2_PATH}" start "${ECOSYSTEM_CONFIG}"`, {
-      cwd: PLUGIN_ROOT,
-      stdio: 'pipe', // Capture output to avoid clutter
-      encoding: 'utf-8',
-    });
-
-    log('✓ Worker service ready', colors.dim);
-    return true;
-
-  } catch (error) {
-    // PM2 errors are often non-critical (e.g., "already running")
-    // Don't fail the entire setup if worker start has issues
-    log(`⚠️  Worker startup issue (non-critical): ${error.message}`, colors.yellow);
-
-    // Check if it's just because worker is already running
-    if (error.message && (error.message.includes('already') || error.message.includes('exist'))) {
-      log('✓ Worker was already running', colors.dim);
-      return true;
-    }
-
-    return false;
-  }
-}
-
 async function main() {
   try {
     // Check if we need to install dependencies
@@ -253,17 +220,16 @@ async function main() {
 
       if (!installSuccess) {
         log('', colors.red);
-        log('⚠️  Installation failed - worker startup may fail', colors.yellow);
+        log('⚠️  Installation failed', colors.yellow);
         log('', colors.reset);
-        // Don't exit - still try to start worker with existing deps
+        process.exit(1);
       }
     }
 
-    // Always start/ensure worker is running
-    // This runs whether we installed deps or not
-    startWorker();
+    // Worker will be started lazily when needed (e.g., when save-hook sends data)
+    // Context hook only needs database access, not the worker service
 
-    // Success - dependencies installed (if needed) and worker running
+    // Success - dependencies installed (if needed)
     process.exit(0);
 
   } catch (error) {