diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 87b87f4..2230e6a 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ if (steamwarProperties.containsKey("hostname")) {
 
         doLast {
             await(shell("scp ${libs}/${jarName} ${hostname}:${uploadPath}/${server}/plugins"))
-            if (!answer("Start ${server} server?")) {
+            if (steamwarProperties.getOrDefault("directStart", "false") == "false" && !answer("Start ${server} server?")) {
                 return
             }
             serverStart(server, serverStartFlags, hostname)