diff --git a/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/handlers.py b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/handlers.py
index e1d527b..a3ce473 100644
--- a/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/handlers.py
+++ b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/handlers.py
@@ -1,23 +1,20 @@
-import os
-import logging
-
 from jupyter_remote_desktop_proxy.handlers import DesktopHandler
 from tornado import web
+from tornado.ioloop import IOLoop
 
-from .qgis.utils import open_qgis
-
-logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+from .utils import is_process_running, start_qgis
 
 
 class QgisHandler(DesktopHandler):
     @web.authenticated
     async def get(self):
-        logging.info("Starting QGIS")
+        await super().get()
         action = self.get_argument("action", None)
         url = self.get_argument("url", None)
         project_name = self.get_argument("project_name", "new project")
         layer_name = self.get_argument("layer_name", "Vector Layer")
-        if action and url:
-            open_qgis(action, url=url, project_name=project_name, layer_name=layer_name)
-        await super().get()
+
+        if not is_process_running("websockify"):
+            IOLoop.current().call_later(3, lambda:start_qgis(action, url, project_name, layer_name))
+        
+
diff --git a/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/logger.py b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/logger.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f12c0c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/logger.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import logging
+
+
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/qgis/scripts/zoom.py b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/qgis/scripts/zoom.py
index 5a8d70b..1ee9981 100644
--- a/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/qgis/scripts/zoom.py
+++ b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/qgis/scripts/zoom.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 # Get the QGIS interface
 iface = qgis.utils.iface
+iface.mainWindow().showMaximized()
 
 # Get the active map canvas
 canvas = iface.mapCanvas()
diff --git a/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/qgis/utils.py b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/qgis/utils.py
index 9f72865..9235ef8 100644
--- a/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/qgis/utils.py
+++ b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/qgis/utils.py
@@ -28,4 +28,4 @@ def open_qgis(action="add_vector_layer", **kwargs):
         }
         project_file_content = action_template.format(**layer_args)
         f.write(project_file_content)
-    subprocess.Popen(["qgis", "--nologo", "--project", file_path, "--code", zoom_script_path, "--code", maximize_script_path])
+    subprocess.Popen(["qgis", "--nologo", "--project", file_path, "--code", zoom_script_path])
diff --git a/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/utils.py b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70aecfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jupyter_remote_qgis_proxy/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import psutil
+import time
+
+from .logger import logger
+from .qgis.utils import open_qgis
+
+
+def is_process_running(process_name):
+  """
+  Checks if a process with the given name is running.
+  """
+  for process in psutil.process_iter():
+    try:
+      if process.name().lower() == process_name.lower():
+        return True
+    except (psutil.NoSuchProcess, psutil.AccessDenied):
+      pass
+  return False
+
+
+def wait_for_condition(condition, timeout=10):
+  """
+  Waits for a condition to be true for a specified timeout.
+
+  Args:
+      condition: A callable that returns True when the condition is met.
+      timeout: The maximum time in seconds to wait (default: 10).
+
+  Returns:
+      True if the condition becomes true before the timeout, False otherwise.
+  """
+  start_time = time.time()
+  while time.time() - start_time < timeout:
+    if condition():
+      return True
+    time.sleep(0.5)
+  return False
+
+
+def start_qgis(action, url, project_name, layer_name):
+    """Starts QGIS and waits for websockify to start if necessary."""
+    logger.info("Waiting for websockify to start")
+    is_websockify_running = lambda: is_process_running("websockify")
+    running = wait_for_condition(is_websockify_running, timeout=10)
+    logger.info(f"Websockify is running: {running}")
+    logger.info("Starting QGIS")
+    if action and url:
+        open_qgis(action, url=url, project_name=project_name, layer_name=layer_name)
+    elif not is_process_running("qgis"):
+        open_qgis()