diff --git a/server/src/worktree.rs b/server/src/worktree.rs
index a655f2e..3e034f0 100644
--- a/server/src/worktree.rs
+++ b/server/src/worktree.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ pub async fn create_worktree(
             .await
             .map_err(|e| format!("spawn_blocking: {e}"))??;
         write_mcp_json(&wt_path, port)?;
-        run_setup_commands(&wt_path, config).await?;
+        run_setup_commands(&wt_path, config).await;
         return Ok(WorktreeInfo {
             path: wt_path,
             branch,
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ pub async fn create_worktree(
         .map_err(|e| format!("spawn_blocking: {e}"))??;
 
     write_mcp_json(&wt_path, port)?;
-    run_setup_commands(&wt_path, config).await?;
+    run_setup_commands(&wt_path, config).await;
 
     Ok(WorktreeInfo {
         path: wt_path,
@@ -258,14 +258,15 @@ fn remove_worktree_sync(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn run_setup_commands(wt_path: &Path, config: &ProjectConfig) -> Result<(), String> {
+async fn run_setup_commands(wt_path: &Path, config: &ProjectConfig) {
     for component in &config.component {
         let cmd_dir = wt_path.join(&component.path);
         for cmd in &component.setup {
-            run_shell_command(cmd, &cmd_dir).await?;
+            if let Err(e) = run_shell_command(cmd, &cmd_dir).await {
+                slog!("[worktree] setup warning for {}: {e}", component.name);
+            }
         }
     }
-    Ok(())
 }
 
 async fn run_teardown_commands(wt_path: &Path, config: &ProjectConfig) -> Result<(), String> {
@@ -491,7 +492,8 @@ mod tests {
             component: vec![],
             agent: vec![],
         };
-        assert!(run_setup_commands(tmp.path(), &config).await.is_ok());
+        // Should complete without panic
+        run_setup_commands(tmp.path(), &config).await;
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
@@ -506,11 +508,12 @@ mod tests {
             }],
             agent: vec![],
         };
-        assert!(run_setup_commands(tmp.path(), &config).await.is_ok());
+        // Should complete without panic
+        run_setup_commands(tmp.path(), &config).await;
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn run_setup_commands_propagates_failure() {
+    async fn run_setup_commands_ignores_failures() {
         let tmp = TempDir::new().unwrap();
         let config = ProjectConfig {
             component: vec![ComponentConfig {
@@ -521,9 +524,8 @@ mod tests {
             }],
             agent: vec![],
         };
-        let result = run_setup_commands(tmp.path(), &config).await;
-        assert!(result.is_err(), "Expected failure from failing setup command");
-        assert!(result.unwrap_err().contains("failed"));
+        // Setup command failures are non-fatal — should not panic or propagate
+        run_setup_commands(tmp.path(), &config).await;
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
@@ -643,6 +645,70 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(result.is_ok(), "Expected removal to succeed: {:?}", result.err());
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn create_worktree_succeeds_despite_setup_failure() {
+        let tmp = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let project_root = tmp.path().join("my-project");
+        fs::create_dir_all(&project_root).unwrap();
+        init_git_repo(&project_root);
+
+        let config = ProjectConfig {
+            component: vec![ComponentConfig {
+                name: "broken-build".to_string(),
+                path: ".".to_string(),
+                setup: vec!["exit 1".to_string()],
+                teardown: vec![],
+            }],
+            agent: vec![],
+        };
+        // Even though setup commands fail, create_worktree must succeed
+        // so the agent can start and fix the problem itself.
+        let result = create_worktree(&project_root, "172_setup_fail", &config, 3001).await;
+        assert!(
+            result.is_ok(),
+            "create_worktree must succeed even if setup commands fail: {:?}",
+            result.err()
+        );
+        let info = result.unwrap();
+        assert!(info.path.exists());
+        assert!(info.path.join(".mcp.json").exists());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn create_worktree_reuse_succeeds_despite_setup_failure() {
+        let tmp = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let project_root = tmp.path().join("my-project");
+        fs::create_dir_all(&project_root).unwrap();
+        init_git_repo(&project_root);
+
+        let empty_config = ProjectConfig {
+            component: vec![],
+            agent: vec![],
+        };
+        // First creation — no setup commands, should succeed
+        create_worktree(&project_root, "173_reuse_fail", &empty_config, 3001)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let failing_config = ProjectConfig {
+            component: vec![ComponentConfig {
+                name: "broken-build".to_string(),
+                path: ".".to_string(),
+                setup: vec!["exit 1".to_string()],
+                teardown: vec![],
+            }],
+            agent: vec![],
+        };
+        // Second call — worktree exists, setup commands fail, must still succeed
+        let result =
+            create_worktree(&project_root, "173_reuse_fail", &failing_config, 3002).await;
+        assert!(
+            result.is_ok(),
+            "create_worktree reuse must succeed even if setup commands fail: {:?}",
+            result.err()
+        );
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn remove_worktree_async_removes_directory() {
         let tmp = TempDir::new().unwrap();