diff --git a/lutristosunshine.py b/lutristosunshine.py
index 36b6bbb..a587f48 100644
--- a/lutristosunshine.py
+++ b/lutristosunshine.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from config.constants import COVERS_PATH, DEFAULT_IMAGE, SOURCE_COLORS, RESET_COLOR
 from utils.utils import handle_interrupt, run_command, get_games_found_message, parse_json_output
 from utils.input import get_yes_no_input, get_user_selection
-from sunshine.sunshine import detect_sunshine_installation, add_game_to_sunshine, get_existing_apps, get_auth_token
+from sunshine.sunshine import detect_sunshine_installation, add_game_to_sunshine, get_existing_apps, get_auth_token, is_sunshine_running
 from utils.steamgriddb import manage_api_key, download_image_from_steamgriddb
 from launchers.heroic import list_heroic_games, get_heroic_command, HEROIC_PATHS
 from launchers.lutris import list_lutris_games, get_lutris_command, is_lutris_running
@@ -24,9 +24,14 @@ def main():
             print("Error: Sunshine Flatpak is not supported. Please use the native installation of Sunshine.")
             return
 
-        token = None
-        while token is None:
-            token = get_auth_token()
+        if not is_sunshine_running():
+            print("Error: Sunshine is not running. Please start Sunshine and try again.")
+            return
+
+        token = get_auth_token() 
+        if not token:
+            print("Error: Could not obtain a valid authentication token. Exiting.")
+            return
 
         lutris_command = get_lutris_command()
         heroic_command, _ = get_heroic_command()
diff --git a/sunshine/sunshine.py b/sunshine/sunshine.py
index eac37b7..7ef7948 100644
--- a/sunshine/sunshine.py
+++ b/sunshine/sunshine.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import requests
 import getpass
 import urllib3
+import subprocess
 from typing import Tuple, Optional, Dict, List
 from config.constants import DEFAULT_IMAGE, CREDENTIALS_PATH, SUNSHINE_API_URL
 from utils.utils import run_command
@@ -53,11 +54,25 @@ def get_sunshine_credentials() -> Tuple[str, str]:
     password = getpass.getpass("Enter your Sunshine password: ")
     return username, password
 
+def is_sunshine_running() -> bool:
+    """Checks if Sunshine is currently running."""
+    try:
+        # Run the ps command to check for the Sunshine process
+        output = subprocess.check_output(["ps", "-A"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT).decode()
+        return "sunshine" in output.lower()  # Check if "sunshine" is present in the process list
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        return False
+
 def get_auth_token() -> Optional[str]:
     """Retrieves or generates an authentication token."""
     token_path = os.path.join(CREDENTIALS_PATH, "auth_token.txt")
 
-    # Check for an existing token
+    # Check if Sunshine is running BEFORE attempting any authentication
+    if not is_sunshine_running():
+        print("Error: Sunshine is not running. Please start Sunshine and try again.")
+        return None
+
+    # Check for an existing token (only if Sunshine is running)
     if os.path.exists(token_path):
         with open(token_path, 'r') as f:
             token = f.read().strip()
@@ -70,7 +85,7 @@ def get_auth_token() -> Optional[str]:
         else:
             return token
 
-    # If no valid token exists, prompt for credentials
+    # If no valid token exists, prompt for credentials (only if Sunshine is running)
     username, password = get_sunshine_credentials()
     if not username or not password:
         return None