diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 42c5858a..479fb365 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ log() {
   echo "$message" | sed 's/\\e\[[0-9;]*m//g' >> "$TMP_LOG_FILE"
 }
 
-SCRIPT_VERSION="0.3.0"
+SCRIPT_VERSION="0.3.1"
 REPO="shocknet/Lightning.Pub"
 BRANCH="master"
 
@@ -181,14 +181,14 @@ detect_os_arch
 
 # Define installation paths based on user
 if [ "$(id -u)" -eq 0 ]; then
-  IS_ROOT=true
+  export IS_ROOT=true
   # For root, install under /opt for system-wide access
   export INSTALL_DIR="/opt/lightning_pub"
   export UNIT_DIR="/etc/systemd/system"
   export SYSTEMCTL_CMD="systemctl"
   log "Running as root: App will be installed in $INSTALL_DIR"
 else
-  IS_ROOT=false
+  export IS_ROOT=false
   export INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/lightning_pub"
   export UNIT_DIR="$HOME/.config/systemd/user"
   export SYSTEMCTL_CMD="systemctl --user"
diff --git a/scripts/start_services.sh b/scripts/start_services.sh
index e8f16959..c2c46800 100755
--- a/scripts/start_services.sh
+++ b/scripts/start_services.sh
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ start_services() {
 
   if [ "$OS" = "Linux" ]; then
     if [ "$SYSTEMCTL_AVAILABLE" = true ]; then
+      # Enable linger for user services so they persist after logout
+      if [ "$IS_ROOT" = false ] && command -v loginctl &> /dev/null; then
+        log "Enabling linger for user services to persist after logout..."
+        loginctl enable-linger || log "Warning: Failed to enable linger. Services may stop after logout."
+      fi
+
       mkdir -p "$UNIT_DIR"
 
       # Check and create lnd.service if needed (only if it doesn't exist)