diff --git a/src/s5p/pool.py b/src/s5p/pool.py
index 4bffa5d..b50dba5 100644
--- a/src/s5p/pool.py
+++ b/src/s5p/pool.py
@@ -71,23 +71,15 @@ class ProxyPool:
     async def start(self) -> None:
         """Load state, fetch sources, start background loops.
 
-        On warm start (state file has alive proxies), the pool begins
-        serving immediately using cached state and defers all health
-        testing to background tasks.  On cold start, a full health
-        test runs before returning so the caller has live proxies.
+        Always defers health testing to background so the server starts
+        listening immediately.  On warm start, cached alive proxies are
+        available right away.  On cold start, proxies become available
+        as the background test progresses.
         """
         self._load_state()
-        warm = bool(self._alive_keys)
         await self._fetch_all_sources()
-
-        if warm:
-            # trust persisted alive state, verify in background
-            self._save_state()
-            self._tasks.append(asyncio.create_task(self._deferred_full_test()))
-        else:
-            # cold start: test everything before serving
-            await self._run_health_tests()
-            self._save_state()
+        self._save_state()
+        self._tasks.append(asyncio.create_task(self._deferred_full_test()))
 
         self._tasks.append(asyncio.create_task(self._refresh_loop()))
         self._tasks.append(asyncio.create_task(self._health_loop()))