diff --git a/src/service_runner.cpp b/src/service_runner.cpp
index 08a802e..73cc6f0 100644
--- a/src/service_runner.cpp
+++ b/src/service_runner.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ service_runner::service_runner(const std::string& server_name, const std::string
     mValid = !mServiceInfo.local_template_path.empty();
 }
 
-bool service_runner::install() {
+bool service_runner::install(bool silent) {
     maketitle("Installing " + mService + " (" + mServiceInfo.template_name + ") on " + mServer);
 
     if (!mServerEnv.is_valid()) return false; // should never hit this.
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ bool service_runner::install() {
     return true;
 }
 
-bool service_runner::uninstall() {
+bool service_runner::uninstall(bool silent) {
     maketitle("Uninstalling " + mService + " (" + mServiceInfo.template_name + ") on " + mServer);
     
     if (!mServerEnv.is_valid()) return false; // should never hit this.
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ bool service_runner::restore(std::string backup_file, bool silent)
     std::cout << "OK, here goes..." << std::endl;
 
     { // backup existing service
-        std::cout << "1) Backing up existing service... " << std::flush;
+        maketitle("1) Backing up old service... ");
         if (!backup(true)) // silent=true
         {
             std::cerr << std::endl;
@@ -580,8 +580,19 @@ bool service_runner::restore(std::string backup_file, bool silent)
         std::cout << "Backup complete." << std::endl;
     }
 
+    { // uninstall service, then nuke it.
+        maketitle("2) Uninstalling old service...");
+        if (!uninstall(true))
+            return false;
+
+        maketitle("3) Nuking old service...");
+        if (!nuke(true))
+            return false;
+    }
+
+
     { // restore service from backup
-        std::cout << "2) Restoring service from backup..." << std::endl;
+        maketitle("4) Restoring service data from backup...");
         std::string remote_backups_dir = remotepath::backups(mServer);
         std::string remote_backup_file_path = remote_backups_dir + "/" + backup_file;
 
@@ -596,15 +607,24 @@ bool service_runner::restore(std::string backup_file, bool silent)
         mServerEnv.run_remote_template_command(mService, "restore", {remote_backup_file_path, remote_temp_folder.path()}, silent);
     } // dtor of remote_temp_folder will clean up the temp folder on the server
 
-    // healthcheck the service
-    std::cout << "3) Healthchecking service..." << std::endl;
-    std::string green_tick = "\033[32m✓\033[0m";
-    std::string red_cross = "\033[31m✗\033[0m";    
-    bool healthy= (mServerEnv.run_remote_template_command(mService, "status", {}, silent));
-    if (!silent)
-        std::cout << (healthy ? green_tick : red_cross) << " Service is " << (healthy ? "healthy" : "NOT healthy") << std::endl;
 
-    return true;
+    { // installing fresh service
+        maketitle("5) Non-destructive install of fresh service...");
+        if (!install(true))
+            return false;
+    }
+
+    bool healthy = false;
+    {// healthcheck the service
+        maketitle("6) Healthchecking service...");
+        std::string green_tick = "\033[32m✓\033[0m";
+        std::string red_cross = "\033[31m✗\033[0m";    
+        healthy= (mServerEnv.run_remote_template_command(mService, "status", {}, silent));
+        if (!silent)
+            std::cout << (healthy ? green_tick : red_cross) << " Service is " << (healthy ? "healthy" : "NOT healthy") << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    return healthy;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/service_runner.hpp b/src/service_runner.hpp
index 88b66d7..b1b5511 100644
--- a/src/service_runner.hpp
+++ b/src/service_runner.hpp
@@ -64,14 +64,14 @@ class service_runner {
         // 3. copy the template files into {DROPSHELL_DIR}/{service_name}/template (from the templates directory for the specified server, using templates.hpp to identify the path)
         // 4. copying the local service directory into {DROPSHELL_DIR}/{service_name}/config (from the server directory for the specified server)
         // 5. running the install.sh script on the server, passing the {service_name}.env file as an argument
-        bool install(); 
+        bool install(bool silent=false); 
         
         // uninstall the service over ssh, using the credentials from server.env (via server_env.hpp)
         // 1. check if the server_name exists, and the service_name refers to a valid template
         // 2. check if service_name is valid for the server_name
         // 3. run the uninstall.sh script on the server, passing the {service_name}.env file as an argument
         // 4. remove the service directory from the server
-        bool uninstall();
+        bool uninstall(bool silent=false);
 
         // backup and restore
         bool backup(bool silent=false);
diff --git a/templates/squashkiwi/start.sh b/templates/squashkiwi/start.sh
index 5f39d7e..54a6bac 100644
--- a/templates/squashkiwi/start.sh
+++ b/templates/squashkiwi/start.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ DOCKER_RUN_CMD="docker run -d \
 
 
 if ! _create_and_start_container "$DOCKER_RUN_CMD" "$CONTAINER_NAME"; then
+    echo "${DOCKER_RUN_CMD}"
     _die "Failed to start container ${CONTAINER_NAME}"
 fi
 
diff --git a/templates/test_template.sh b/templates/test_template.sh
index 4c86cc3..a760952 100755
--- a/templates/test_template.sh
+++ b/templates/test_template.sh
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ title "Checking template $TEMPLATE"
 
 SERVICE_NAME="test-$TEMPLATE"
 
+title "Nuking old service"
+ds fullnuke localhost $SERVICE_NAME || die "Failed to fullnuke old service"
+
 title "Creating service"
 ds create-service localhost $TEMPLATE $SERVICE_NAME || die "Failed to create service"