diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 40a21ce..1ad8af5 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -44,16 +44,16 @@ deploy:
     - main
   variables:
     CI: "true"        # Mark this as a CI run
-    ENVIRONMENT: dev  # Use dev environment settings
-    PORT: 8081        # Set the port for the application
+    ENVIRONMENT: test  # Use test environment settings
+    PORT: 8081
   script:
-    - echo "Setting up dependencies..."
+    - echo "Setting up Python dependencies..."
     - source $VIRTUAL_ENV/bin/activate
     - pip install -r requirements.txt
-    - echo "Verifying SSL files..."
-    - echo "Running the application with dev SSL certificates on port $PORT..."
+    - echo "Starting the application to test startup with SSL..."
     - cd backend
-    - python3.8 -m main
+    - python3.8 -m main  # App will start, validate, and exit
+    - echo "Application startup validation completed successfully."
 
 release:
   stage: release
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 23e9f47..af02a9f 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     else:
         # Default behavior: Run the FastAPI server
         import os
+        from multiprocessing import Process
+        from time import sleep
 
         # Get environment from an environment variable
         environment = os.getenv("ENVIRONMENT", "dev")
@@ -98,30 +100,39 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
         # Paths for SSL certificates
         if is_ci:
-            # Use self-signed certificates for CI
             cert_path = "ssl/cert.pem"
             key_path = "ssl/key.pem"
-            host = "127.0.0.1"  # In CI, bind to localhost
-            print("Using self-signed SSL certificates for CI...")
+            host = "127.0.0.1"
+            print("Running in CI mode with self-signed certificates...")
         elif environment == "test":
-            # Use proper test certificates
             cert_path = "ssl/mx-aare-test.psi.ch.pem"
             key_path = "ssl/mx-aare-test.psi.ch.key"
-            host = "0.0.0.0"  # In test, bind to all interfaces
+            host = "0.0.0.0"
             print("Using test SSL certificates...")
         else:
-            # Use development self-signed certificates
             cert_path = "ssl/cert.pem"
             key_path = "ssl/key.pem"
-            host = "127.0.0.1"  # Bind to localhost for dev
-            print("Using self-signed SSL certificates for development...")
+            host = "127.0.0.1"
+            print("Using development SSL certificates...")
 
-        # Run the application with appropriate SSL setup
-        uvicorn.run(
-            app,
-            host=host,
-            port=port,
-            log_level="debug",
-            ssl_keyfile=key_path,
-            ssl_certfile=cert_path,
-        )
+        def run_server():
+            uvicorn.run(
+                app,
+                host=host,
+                port=port,
+                log_level="debug",
+                ssl_keyfile=key_path,
+                ssl_certfile=cert_path,
+            )
+
+        if is_ci:
+            # In CI, start server in a subprocess and exit after a short delay
+            server_process = Process(target=run_server)
+            server_process.start()
+            sleep(5)  # Wait for 5 seconds to ensure the server starts without errors
+            server_process.terminate()  # Terminate the server process
+            server_process.join()  # Clean up the process
+            print("CI: Server started successfully and exited.")
+        else:
+            # Normal behavior for running the FastAPI server
+            run_server()