diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index f32605870b8..1332136fa17 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@ importers:
       '@coinbase/coinbase-sdk':
         specifier: 0.10.0
         version: 0.10.0(bufferutil@4.0.8)(typescript@5.6.3)(utf-8-validate@5.0.10)(zod@3.23.8)
-      '@deepgram/sdk':
-        specifier: ^3.9.0
-        version: 3.9.0(bufferutil@4.0.8)(encoding@0.1.13)(utf-8-validate@5.0.10)
       '@vitest/eslint-plugin':
         specifier: 1.0.1
         version: 1.0.1(@typescript-eslint/utils@8.16.0(eslint@9.16.0(jiti@2.4.0))(typescript@5.6.3))(eslint@9.16.0(jiti@2.4.0))(typescript@5.6.3)(vitest@2.1.5(@types/node@22.8.4)(jsdom@25.0.1(bufferutil@4.0.8)(canvas@2.11.2(encoding@0.1.13))(utf-8-validate@5.0.10))(terser@5.37.0))
@@ -3029,14 +3026,6 @@ packages:
     peerDependencies:
       postcss: ^8.4
 
-  '@deepgram/captions@1.2.0':
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-8B1C/oTxTxyHlSFubAhNRgCbQ2SQ5wwvtlByn8sDYZvdDtdn/VE2yEPZ4BvUnrKWmsbTQY6/ooLV+9Ka2qmDSQ==}
-    engines: {node: '>=18.0.0'}
-
-  '@deepgram/sdk@3.9.0':
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-X/7JzoYjCObyEaPb2Dgnkwk2LwRe4bw0FJJCLdkjpnFfJCFgA9IWgRD8FEUI6/hp8dW/CqqXkGPA2Q3DIsVG8A==}
-    engines: {node: '>=18.0.0'}
-
   '@derhuerst/http-basic@8.2.4':
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-F9rL9k9Xjf5blCz8HsJRO4diy111cayL2vkY2XE4r4t3n0yPXVYy3KD3nJ1qbrSn9743UWSXH4IwuCa/HWlGFw==}
     engines: {node: '>=6.0.0'}
@@ -3099,7 +3088,6 @@ packages:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-hArn9FF5ZYi1IkxdJEVnJi+OxlwLV0NJYWpKXsmNOojtGtAZHxmsELA+MZlu2KW1F/K1/nt7lFOfcMXNYweq9w==}
     version: 0.17.0
     engines: {node: '>=16.11.0'}
-    deprecated: This version uses deprecated encryption modes. Please use a newer version.
 
   '@discordjs/ws@1.1.1':
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-PZ+vLpxGCRtmr2RMkqh8Zp+BenUaJqlS6xhgWKEZcgC/vfHLEzpHtKkB0sl3nZWpwtcKk6YWy+pU3okL2I97FA==}
@@ -19280,23 +19268,6 @@ snapshots:
     dependencies:
       postcss: 8.4.49
 
-  '@deepgram/captions@1.2.0':
-    dependencies:
-      dayjs: 1.11.13
-
-  '@deepgram/sdk@3.9.0(bufferutil@4.0.8)(encoding@0.1.13)(utf-8-validate@5.0.10)':
-    dependencies:
-      '@deepgram/captions': 1.2.0
-      '@types/node': 18.19.68
-      cross-fetch: 3.1.8(encoding@0.1.13)
-      deepmerge: 4.3.1
-      events: 3.3.0
-      ws: 8.18.0(bufferutil@4.0.8)(utf-8-validate@5.0.10)
-    transitivePeerDependencies:
-      - bufferutil
-      - encoding
-      - utf-8-validate
-
   '@derhuerst/http-basic@8.2.4':
     dependencies:
       caseless: 0.12.0
@@ -37073,4 +37044,4 @@ snapshots:
   zx@8.2.4:
     optionalDependencies:
       '@types/fs-extra': 11.0.4
-      '@types/node': 20.17.9
+      '@types/node': 20.17.9
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/smokeTests.sh b/scripts/smokeTests.sh
index fb05946897f..fcce311fe1d 100755
--- a/scripts/smokeTests.sh
+++ b/scripts/smokeTests.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-# Strict mode, exit on error, undefined variables, and pipe failures
-set -euo pipefail
-
 # Print some information about the environment to aid in case of troubleshooting
 
 echo "node version:"
@@ -30,9 +27,20 @@ if (( CURRENT_NODE_VERSION < REQUIRED_NODE_VERSION )); then
 fi
 
 # Autodetect project directory relative to this script's path
-PROJECT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+PROJECT_DIR="$0"
+while [ -h "$PROJECT_DIR" ]; do
+    ls=$(ls -ld "$PROJECT_DIR")
+    link=$(expr "$ls" : '.*-> \(.*\)$')
+    if expr "$link" : '/.*' > /dev/null; then
+        PROJECT_DIR="$link"
+    else
+        PROJECT_DIR="$(dirname "$PROJECT_DIR")/$link"
+    fi
+done
+PROJECT_DIR="$(dirname "$PROJECT_DIR")/.."
+PROJECT_DIR="$(cd "$PROJECT_DIR"; pwd)"
 
-cd "$PROJECT_DIR"
+cd $PROJECT_DIR
 
 cp .env.example .env
 
@@ -40,53 +48,39 @@ pnpm install -r
 
 pnpm build
 
-# Create temp file and ensure cleanup
 OUTFILE="$(mktemp)"
-trap 'rm -f "$OUTFILE"' EXIT
-echo "Using temporary output file: $OUTFILE"
-
-# Add timeout configuration
-TIMEOUT=30
-INTERVAL=0.5
-TIMER=0
-
+echo $OUTFILE
 (
-  # Wait for the ready message with timeout
+  # Wait for the ready message
   while true; do
-    if [[ $TIMER -ge $TIMEOUT ]]; then
-      echo "Error: Timeout waiting for application to start after $TIMEOUT seconds"
-      kill $$
-      exit 1
-    fi
-
     if grep -q "Chat started" "$OUTFILE"; then
       echo "exit"; sleep 2
       break
     fi
-
-    sleep $INTERVAL
-    TIMER=$(echo "$TIMER + $INTERVAL" | bc)
+    sleep 0.5
   done
 ) | pnpm start --character=characters/trump.character.json > "$OUTFILE" &
 
 # Wait for process to finish
 wait $!
 RESULT=$?
-
 echo "----- OUTPUT START -----"
 cat "$OUTFILE"
 echo "----- OUTPUT END -----"
 
 # Check the exit code of the last command
 if [[ $RESULT -ne 0 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: 'start' command exited with an error (code: $RESULT)"
+    echo "Error: 'start' command exited with an error."
     exit 1
 fi
 
-# Check if output contains expected termination message
+# Check if output.txt contains "Terminating and cleaning up resources..."
 if grep -q "Terminating and cleaning up resources..." "$OUTFILE"; then
     echo "Script completed successfully."
 else
-    echo "Error: The output does not contain the expected termination message."
+    echo "Error: The output does not contain the expected string."
     exit 1
-fi
\ No newline at end of file
+fi
+
+# Clean up
+rm "$OUTFILE"