diff --git a/crates/lanspread-tauri-deno-ts/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/crates/lanspread-tauri-deno-ts/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 135152a..af7f97a 100644
--- a/crates/lanspread-tauri-deno-ts/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/lanspread-tauri-deno-ts/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+use std::fs::File;
 use std::{
     collections::HashSet,
     path::{Path, PathBuf},
@@ -21,6 +23,9 @@ struct LanSpreadState {
     games_folder: Arc<RwLock<String>>,
 }
 
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+const FIRST_START_DONE_FILE: &str = ".softlan_first_start_done";
+
 #[tauri::command]
 async fn request_games(state: tauri::State<'_, LanSpreadState>) -> tauri::Result<()> {
     log::debug!("request_games");
@@ -250,8 +255,16 @@ async fn run_game_windows(
     let game_setup_bin = game_path.join("game_setup.cmd");
     let game_start_bin = game_path.join("game_start.cmd");
 
-    let local_ready = local_install_is_ready(&game_path);
-    if !local_ready && game_setup_bin.exists() {
+    let first_start_done_file = game_path.join("local").join(FIRST_START_DONE_FILE);
+    if !first_start_done_file.exists() && game_setup_bin.exists() {
+        if !local_install_is_ready(&game_path) {
+            log::warn!(
+                "local install is missing or incomplete for {}; skipping game_setup",
+                game_path.display()
+            );
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
         let result = run_as_admin(
             "cmd.exe",
             &format!(
@@ -266,6 +279,13 @@ async fn run_game_windows(
             log::error!("failed to run game_setup.cmd");
             return Ok(());
         }
+
+        if let Err(e) = File::create(&first_start_done_file) {
+            log::error!(
+                "failed to create first-start marker {}: {e}",
+                first_start_done_file.display()
+            );
+        }
     }
 
     if game_start_bin.exists() {