diff --git a/configs/config_example.toml b/configs/config_example.toml
index a0682f6..4b057dc 100644
--- a/configs/config_example.toml
+++ b/configs/config_example.toml
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ router_name = "router1"
 router_address = "xx.xx.xx.xx"  # Replace with actual IP address
 router_port = 5555
 
+# Address of the peer (follower) node used for two-player protocols (CHSH, QKD/SSM).
+# The health check probes this address on startup and disables CHSH/SSM if unreachable.
+follower_node_address = "xx.xx.xx.xx:8000"  # Replace with actual follower node address
+
 # Rotary encoder serial adress
 rotary_encoder_address = "/dev/tty.usbmodem1101"
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 9929745..0b9b4b9 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ authors = [
     { name = "Soroush Hoseini", email = "soroushhoseini0@gmail.com" },
 ]
 dependencies = [
-    "pqn-hardware @ git+https://github.com/PublicQuantumNetwork/pqn-hardware.git@6440be2830fddccb09b461caea023c84b7c3bea1",
+    "pqn-hardware @ git+https://github.com/PublicQuantumNetwork/pqn-hardware.git@master",
     "fastapi[standard]>=0.115.14",
     "httpx>=0.28.1",
     "pydantic>=2.0",
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/api/deps.py b/src/pqn_node/api/deps.py
index 3ef982e..fda86d1 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/api/deps.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/api/deps.py
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ async def get_http_client() -> AsyncGenerator[httpx.AsyncClient, None]:
 
 
 async def get_instrument_client() -> AsyncGenerator[Client, None]:
-    async with Client(host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port) as client:
+    async with Client(
+        host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, router_name=settings.router_name
+    ) as client:
         yield client
 
 
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/api/main.py b/src/pqn_node/api/main.py
index 63c2383..60ad59e 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/api/main.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/api/main.py
@@ -1,14 +1,22 @@
 from fastapi import APIRouter
+from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from pqn_node.api.routes import chsh
 from pqn_node.api.routes import coordination
 from pqn_node.api.routes import debug
-from pqn_node.api.routes import games
 from pqn_node.api.routes import health
 from pqn_node.api.routes import qkd
 from pqn_node.api.routes import rng
 from pqn_node.api.routes import serial
 from pqn_node.api.routes import timetagger
+from pqn_node.core.config import GamesAvailability
+from pqn_node.core.config import get_settings
+from pqn_node.core.config import settings
+
+
+class NodeConfig(BaseModel):
+    follower_node_address: str | None
+
 
 api_router = APIRouter()
 api_router.include_router(chsh.router)
@@ -18,5 +26,14 @@
 api_router.include_router(serial.router)
 api_router.include_router(coordination.router)
 api_router.include_router(debug.router)
-api_router.include_router(games.router)
 api_router.include_router(health.router)
+
+
+@api_router.get("/games/availability", tags=["games"])
+def get_availability() -> GamesAvailability:
+    return get_settings().games_availability
+
+
+@api_router.get("/node/config", tags=["node"])
+def get_node_config() -> NodeConfig:
+    return NodeConfig(follower_node_address=settings.follower_node_address)
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/chsh.py b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/chsh.py
index 3784d51..69ced58 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/chsh.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/chsh.py
@@ -77,11 +77,15 @@ async def event_generator() -> AsyncGenerator[str, None]:
 
 async def _chsh(  # Complexity is high due to the nature of the CHSH experiment.
     basis: tuple[float, float],
-    follower_node_address: str,
     http_client: ClientDep,
     timetagger_address: str,
     state: StateDep,
 ) -> ChshResult:
+    follower_node_address = settings.follower_node_address
+    if follower_node_address is None:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_503_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE, detail="follower_node_address not configured"
+        )
     logger.debug("Starting CHSH")
 
     # Initialize progress tracking
@@ -91,7 +95,9 @@ async def _chsh(  # Complexity is high due to the nature of the CHSH experiment.
     chsh_progress_event.set()
 
     logger.debug("Instantiating client")
-    client = Client(host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, timeout=600_000)
+    client = Client(
+        host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, router_name=settings.router_name, timeout=600_000
+    )
 
     # TODO: Check if settings.chsh_settings.hwp is set before even trying to get the device.
     hwp = cast("RotatorInstrument", client.get_device(settings.chsh_settings.hwp[0], settings.chsh_settings.hwp[1]))
@@ -186,18 +192,19 @@ async def _chsh(  # Complexity is high due to the nature of the CHSH experiment.
 @router.post("/")
 async def chsh(
     basis: tuple[float, float],
-    follower_node_address: str,
     http_client: ClientDep,
     timetagger_address: str,
     state: StateDep,
 ) -> ChshResult:
     logger.info("Starting CHSH experiment with basis: %s", basis)
-    return await _chsh(basis, follower_node_address, http_client, timetagger_address, state)
+    return await _chsh(basis, http_client, timetagger_address, state)
 
 
 @router.post("/request-angle-by-basis")
 async def request_angle_by_basis(index: int, state: StateDep, *, perp: bool = False) -> bool:
-    client = Client(host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, timeout=600_000)
+    client = Client(
+        host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, router_name=settings.router_name, timeout=600_000
+    )
     hwp = cast(
         "RotatorInstrument",
         client.get_device(settings.chsh_settings.request_hwp[0], settings.chsh_settings.request_hwp[1]),
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/coordination.py b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/coordination.py
index c7b8367..0e60acf 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/coordination.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/coordination.py
@@ -113,9 +113,7 @@ async def protocol_cancelled(
 
 
 @router.post("/collect_follower")
-async def collect_follower(
-    request: Request, address: str, state: StateDep, http_client: ClientDep
-) -> CollectFollowerResponse:
+async def collect_follower(request: Request, state: StateDep, http_client: ClientDep) -> CollectFollowerResponse:
     """
     Endpoint called by a leader node (this one) to request a follower node (other node) to follow it.
 
@@ -123,6 +121,11 @@ async def collect_follower(
     -------
         CollectFollowerResponse indicating if the follower accepted the request.
     """
+    address = settings.follower_node_address
+    if address is None:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_503_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE, detail="follower_node_address not configured"
+        )
     logger.info("Requesting client at %s to follow", address)
 
     # Get the port this server is listening on
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/games.py b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/games.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 23f103b..0000000
--- a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/games.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-from fastapi import APIRouter
-
-from pqn_node.core.config import GamesAvailability
-from pqn_node.core.config import get_settings
-
-router = APIRouter(prefix="/games", tags=["games"])
-
-
-@router.get("/availability")
-def get_availability() -> GamesAvailability:
-    return get_settings().games_availability
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/health.py b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/health.py
index b623050..dcfdd6e 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/health.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/health.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
+import concurrent.futures
 import logging
 import time
-from typing import Annotated
+from collections.abc import Callable
 
 import httpx
 import serial
 from fastapi import APIRouter
-from fastapi import Query
 from pqn_hardware.network.client import Client
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 from pydantic import Field
@@ -17,7 +17,20 @@
 router = APIRouter(prefix="/health", tags=["health"])
 
 _ROUTER_TIMEOUT_MS = 5000
+_ROUTER_WALL_TIMEOUT_S = 6.0
+
+_DEVICES_WALL_TIMEOUT_S = 6.0
+
+_SERIAL_WALL_TIMEOUT_S = 3.0
+
 _FOLLOWER_TIMEOUT_S = 5.0
+_FOLLOWER_WALL_TIMEOUT_S = 6.0
+
+_probe_executor = concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=4, thread_name_prefix="health-probe")
+
+
+def _run_with_timeout[T](fn: Callable[[], T], timeout_s: float) -> T:
+    return _probe_executor.submit(fn).result(timeout=timeout_s)
 
 
 class ComponentStatus(BaseModel):
@@ -158,15 +171,23 @@ def _probe_follower(follower_node_address: str) -> ComponentStatus:
 
 
 @router.get("/")
-def health(
-    follower_node_address: Annotated[str | None, Query()] = None,
-) -> HealthStatus:
+def health() -> HealthStatus:
     """Probe router, configured devices, rotary encoder, and optional follower node."""
-    router_status, client = _connect_router()
+    follower_node_address = settings.follower_node_address
+    try:
+        router_status, client = _run_with_timeout(_connect_router, _ROUTER_WALL_TIMEOUT_S)
+    except concurrent.futures.TimeoutError:
+        router_status = ComponentStatus(reachable=False, error="timeout")
+        client = None
 
     if client is not None:
         try:
-            devices = _probe_devices(client)
+            devices = _run_with_timeout(lambda: _probe_devices(client), _DEVICES_WALL_TIMEOUT_S)
+        except concurrent.futures.TimeoutError:
+            devices = [
+                DeviceStatus(provider=provider, name=name, purpose=purpose, reachable=False, error="timeout")
+                for provider, name, purpose in _configured_devices()
+            ]
         finally:
             client.disconnect()
     else:
@@ -175,8 +196,23 @@ def health(
             for provider, name, purpose in _configured_devices()
         ]
 
-    rotary_encoder = _probe_rotary_encoder()
-    follower_node = _probe_follower(follower_node_address) if follower_node_address else None
+    if not settings.virtual_rotator:
+        try:
+            rotary_encoder = _run_with_timeout(_probe_rotary_encoder, _SERIAL_WALL_TIMEOUT_S)
+        except concurrent.futures.TimeoutError:
+            rotary_encoder = ComponentStatus(reachable=False, error="timeout")
+    else:
+        rotary_encoder = _probe_rotary_encoder()
+
+    if follower_node_address:
+        try:
+            follower_node = _run_with_timeout(lambda: _probe_follower(follower_node_address), _FOLLOWER_WALL_TIMEOUT_S)
+        except concurrent.futures.TimeoutError:
+            follower_node = ComponentStatus(reachable=False, error="timeout")
+    else:
+        follower_node = None
+
+    _apply_games_override(router_status, follower_node)
 
     return HealthStatus(
         router=router_status,
@@ -184,3 +220,14 @@ def health(
         rotary_encoder=rotary_encoder,
         follower_node=follower_node,
     )
+
+
+def _apply_games_override(router_status: ComponentStatus, follower_node: ComponentStatus | None) -> None:
+    ga = settings.games_availability
+    if not router_status.reachable:
+        ga.chsh = False
+        ga.qf = False
+        ga.ssm = False
+    elif follower_node is not None and not follower_node.reachable:
+        ga.chsh = False
+        ga.ssm = False
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/qkd.py b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/qkd.py
index 858c3f8..f60b68d 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/qkd.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/qkd.py
@@ -38,13 +38,21 @@ class QKDResult(BaseModel):
 
 
 async def _qkd(
-    follower_node_address: str,
     http_client: ClientDep,
     state: StateDep,
     timetagger_address: str | None = None,
+    follower_node_address: str | None = None,
 ) -> list[int]:
+    if follower_node_address is None:
+        follower_node_address = settings.follower_node_address
+    if follower_node_address is None:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_503_SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE, detail="follower_node_address not configured"
+        )
     logger.debug("Starting QKD")
-    client = Client(host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, timeout=600_000)
+    client = Client(
+        host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, router_name=settings.router_name, timeout=600_000
+    )
     hwp = cast("RotatorInstrument", client.get_device(settings.qkd_settings.hwp[0], settings.qkd_settings.hwp[1]))
 
     if hwp is None:
@@ -126,7 +134,6 @@ def get_outcome(state: int, basis: int, choice: int, counts: int) -> int:
 
 @router.post("")
 async def qkd(
-    follower_node_address: str,
     http_client: ClientDep,
     state: StateDep,
     timetagger_address: str | None = None,
@@ -139,12 +146,14 @@ async def qkd(
             detail="QKD basis list is empty",
         )
 
-    return await _qkd(follower_node_address, http_client, state, timetagger_address)
+    return await _qkd(http_client, state, timetagger_address)
 
 
 @router.post("/single_bit")
 async def request_qkd_single_pass(state: StateDep) -> bool:
-    client = Client(host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, timeout=600_000)
+    client = Client(
+        host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, router_name=settings.router_name, timeout=600_000
+    )
     hwp = cast(
         "RotatorInstrument",
         client.get_device(settings.qkd_settings.request_hwp[0], settings.qkd_settings.request_hwp[1]),
@@ -345,7 +354,7 @@ async def _submit_basis_list_leader(
     state.qkd_leader_basis_list = basis_list
     await _wait_for_follower_ready(state, http_client)
 
-    ret = await _qkd(state.followers_address, http_client, state, timetagger_address)
+    ret = await _qkd(http_client, state, timetagger_address, follower_node_address=state.followers_address)
     logger.info("Final QKD bits: %s", str(ret))
 
     # Assemble QKDResult object
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/timetagger.py b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/timetagger.py
index 22eb740..845cd24 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/api/routes/timetagger.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/api/routes/timetagger.py
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ async def measure_correlation(
         channel1=channel1,
         channel2=channel2,
     )
-    client = Client(host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, timeout=600_000)
+    client = Client(
+        host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, router_name=settings.router_name, timeout=600_000
+    )
     tagger = cast("TimeTaggerInstrument", client.get_device(settings.timetagger[0], settings.timetagger[1]))
     if tagger is None:
         logger.error("Could not find time tagger device")
@@ -73,7 +75,9 @@ async def count_singles(
             detail="No timetagger configured",
         )
 
-    client = Client(host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, timeout=600_000)
+    client = Client(
+        host=settings.router_address, port=settings.router_port, router_name=settings.router_name, timeout=600_000
+    )
     tagger = cast("TimeTaggerInstrument", client.get_device(settings.timetagger[0], settings.timetagger[1]))
     if tagger is None:
         logger.error("Could not find time tagger device")
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/core/config.py b/src/pqn_node/core/config.py
index 46642b5..1def27c 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/core/config.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/core/config.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     rotary_encoder_address: str = "/dev/ttyACM0"
     virtual_rotator: bool = False  # If True, use terminal input instead of hardware rotary encoder
     games_availability: GamesAvailability = Field(default_factory=GamesAvailability)
+    follower_node_address: str | None = None
 
     model_config = SettingsConfigDict(
         toml_file="./config.toml",
diff --git a/src/pqn_node/main.py b/src/pqn_node/main.py
index ca19942..1998c02 100644
--- a/src/pqn_node/main.py
+++ b/src/pqn_node/main.py
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
 import logging
+from collections.abc import AsyncGenerator
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 
 from pqn_node.api.main import api_router
+from pqn_node.api.routes.health import health
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def lifespan(_app: FastAPI) -> AsyncGenerator[None, None]:
+    logger.info("Running startup health check")
+    health()
+    yield
+
+
 app = FastAPI(
     title="Public Quantum Network",
+    lifespan=lifespan,
 )
 
 # Add CORS middleware to allow all origins
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index c012ee6..297f598 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ wheels = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pqn-hardware"
 version = "0.2.0"
-source = { git = "https://github.com/PublicQuantumNetwork/pqn-hardware.git?rev=6440be2830fddccb09b461caea023c84b7c3bea1#6440be2830fddccb09b461caea023c84b7c3bea1" }
+source = { git = "https://github.com/PublicQuantumNetwork/pqn-hardware.git?rev=master#d9f46be7df481d11da7acc9a02e9e7eed914f6c6" }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "numpy" },
     { name = "pydantic" },
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ dev = [
 requires-dist = [
     { name = "fastapi", extras = ["standard"], specifier = ">=0.115.14" },
     { name = "httpx", specifier = ">=0.28.1" },
-    { name = "pqn-hardware", git = "https://github.com/PublicQuantumNetwork/pqn-hardware.git?rev=6440be2830fddccb09b461caea023c84b7c3bea1" },
+    { name = "pqn-hardware", git = "https://github.com/PublicQuantumNetwork/pqn-hardware.git?rev=master" },
     { name = "pydantic", specifier = ">=2.0" },
     { name = "pydantic-settings", specifier = ">=2.10.1" },
     { name = "pyserial", specifier = ">=3.5" },