diff --git a/ci/build-test.sh b/ci/build-test.sh
index d4c061f..9fc0818 100755
--- a/ci/build-test.sh
+++ b/ci/build-test.sh
@@ -64,10 +64,20 @@ EOF
 
 cd "${BIN_DIR}"
 
-"${MOOSDB}" --moos_suicide_disable --moos_no_colour "${MISSION_FILE}" > /tmp/moosdb_smoke.log 2>&1 &
+echo ">>> Smoke diagnostics"
+getent protocols tcp >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "getprotobyname(tcp) OK" || echo "getprotobyname(tcp) FAILED"
+getent hosts localhost >/dev/null 2>&1 && echo "gethostbyname(localhost) OK" || echo "gethostbyname(localhost) FAILED"
+echo "ulimit -n: $(ulimit -n)"
+
+"${MOOSDB}" -s --moos_suicide_disable --moos_no_colour "${MISSION_FILE}" > /tmp/moosdb_smoke.log 2>&1 &
 MOOSDB_PID=$!
 sleep 3
 
+if ! kill -0 "${MOOSDB_PID}" 2>/dev/null; then
+    echo "--- MOOSDB crashed at startup; log: ---"
+    cat /tmp/moosdb_smoke.log
+fi
+
 ./pPowerManger "${MISSION_FILE}" > /tmp/pm_smoke.log 2>&1 &
 PM_PID=$!
 sleep 5