diff --git a/src/daemon/admin/index.ts b/src/daemon/admin/index.ts
index 4db9cc2..75dfc4b 100644
--- a/src/daemon/admin/index.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/admin/index.ts
@@ -122,7 +122,12 @@ class AdminInterface {
 
             this.rpc.on('request', (req) => this.handleRequest(req));
 
-            pingOrDie(this.ndk);
+            // pingOrDie disabled — NDK 2.8.1 outbox model doesn't echo
+            // self-published events back through subscriptions on
+            // non-public relay channels, so the watchdog fires false
+            // positives and exits the bunker every 50s on private relays.
+            // See aiolabs/nsecbunkerd#4 + #7.
+            // pingOrDie(this.ndk);
         }).catch((err) => {
             console.log('❌ admin connection failed');
             console.log(err);