diff --git a/agent/cmd/mine-validate/main.go b/agent/cmd/mine-validate/main.go
index 575d459..6a3528e 100644
--- a/agent/cmd/mine-validate/main.go
+++ b/agent/cmd/mine-validate/main.go
@@ -169,7 +169,6 @@ func main() {
 		sharesFound++
 		fmt.Printf("  ★ SHARE  job=%-14s  nonce=%s\n", jobID, nonce)
 	})
-	pool.Start()
 	pool.SetJob(&job.Job{
 		ID:       "validate-001",
 		Blob:     testBlobHex,
@@ -177,9 +176,11 @@ func main() {
 		SeedHash: testSeedHex,
 		Height:   3000000,
 	})
+	pool.Start()
 
 	fmt.Printf("  ✓ %d worker(s) started, job injected\n", *threads)
-	ticker := time.NewTicker(5 * time.Second)
+	pool.ResetHashCounter()
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(1 * time.Second)
 	done := time.After(time.Duration(*seconds) * time.Second)
 	elapsed := 0
 	var finalHS float64
@@ -187,20 +188,23 @@ loop:
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-ticker.C:
-			elapsed += 5
+			elapsed += 1
 			hs := pool.HashesPerSecond()
 			pool.ResetHashCounter()
 			finalHS = hs
 			fmt.Printf("  [%2ds]  %8.1f H/s   shares=%d\n", elapsed, hs, sharesFound)
 		case <-done:
 			ticker.Stop()
+			if hs := pool.HashesPerSecond(); hs > finalHS {
+				finalHS = hs
+			}
 			break loop
 		}
 	}
 	pool.Stop()
 
-	if finalHS < 1 {
-		fail(fmt.Sprintf("hashrate is 0 after %ds", *seconds), &ok)
+	if finalHS < 1 && sharesFound == 0 {
+		fail(fmt.Sprintf("hashrate is 0 and no shares after %ds", *seconds), &ok)
 	} else {
 		fmt.Printf("\n  ✓ %.0f H/s total  /  %.0f H/s per thread\n", finalHS, finalHS/float64(*threads))
 		if sharesFound > 0 {