diff --git a/update.py b/update.py
index 5448b90..ed504a0 100644
--- a/update.py
+++ b/update.py
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ ZIP_URL = "https://git.armoredarmadillo.com/brockdarnold/eve-watcher/archive/mai
 
 
 def _git(*a):
-    return subprocess.run(["git", "-C", HERE, *a], capture_output=True, text=True)
+    env = dict(os.environ, GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT="0")   # never block on an interactive prompt
+    return subprocess.run(["git", "-C", HERE, *a], capture_output=True, text=True, env=env)
 
 
 def _have_git():
@@ -89,9 +90,11 @@ def update_code():
     if _have_git():
         before = _git("rev-parse", "HEAD").stdout.strip()
         if _git("fetch", "-q", "origin").returncode != 0:
-            print("! git fetch failed (offline?). Keeping current version.")
-            return False
-        _git("reset", "--hard", "-q", "origin/main")
+            print("! git fetch failed — falling back to zip update.")
+            return _zip_update()
+        if _git("reset", "--hard", "-q", "origin/main").returncode != 0:
+            print("! git reset failed (locked .git pack?) — falling back to zip update.")
+            return _zip_update()       # zip writes files directly, no .git pack to unlink
         after = _git("rev-parse", "HEAD").stdout.strip()
         if before and after and before != after:
             print(f"  updated: {before[:7]} -> {after[:7]}")