diff --git a/api/schema.py b/api/schema.py
index 0688dd9..d36bf54 100644
--- a/api/schema.py
+++ b/api/schema.py
@@ -28,13 +28,29 @@ def is_wecker_ringing() -> bool:
         return False
 
 
+def _project_root() -> Path:
+    return Path(__file__).parent.parent.absolute()
+
+
 def _default_command() -> str:
-    """Return the default shell command to run wecker.py."""
-    project_root = Path(__file__).parent.parent.absolute()
+    """Return the default shell command to run wecker.py from crontab."""
+    project_root = _project_root()
     python_exec = sys.executable
     return f"cd {project_root} && {python_exec} wecker.py >> wecker.log 2>&1"
 
 
+def _start_wecker_process() -> subprocess.Popen:
+    """Start wecker.py without invoking a shell."""
+    project_root = _project_root()
+    return subprocess.Popen(
+        [sys.executable, str(project_root / "wecker.py")],
+        cwd=project_root,
+        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        start_new_session=True,
+    )
+
+
 @strawberry.type
 class Alarm:
     id: str
@@ -106,8 +122,7 @@ class Mutation:
         Returns True if started, False if already ringing."""
         if is_wecker_ringing():
             return False
-        cmd = _default_command()
-        subprocess.Popen(cmd, shell=True)
+        _start_wecker_process()
         return True
 
     @strawberry.field
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 80c7069..0950517 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -233,8 +233,10 @@ def test_start_ringing_starts_process_when_not_ringing():
         assert result is True
         mock_popen.assert_called_once()
         args, kwargs = mock_popen.call_args
-        assert "wecker.py" in args[0]
-        assert kwargs.get("shell") is True
+        assert any("wecker.py" in str(arg) for arg in args[0])
+        assert kwargs.get("shell") is not True
+        assert kwargs.get("cwd") is not None
+        assert kwargs.get("start_new_session") is True
 
 
 def test_start_ringing_ignores_when_already_ringing():