diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 94c99385..15be4738 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ site
 back/user_guide
 
 whombat.db
+.ruff_cache/
 .pdm-python
 back/src/whombat/statics/*
 back/src/whombat/user_guide/*
diff --git a/back/src/whombat/system/app.py b/back/src/whombat/system/app.py
index c089d193..37457251 100644
--- a/back/src/whombat/system/app.py
+++ b/back/src/whombat/system/app.py
@@ -11,11 +11,7 @@
 
 from whombat import exceptions
 from whombat.plugins import add_plugin_pages, add_plugin_routes, load_plugins
-from whombat.system.boot import (
-    close_splash_screen,
-    update_splash_screen,
-    whombat_init,
-)
+from whombat.system.boot import whombat_init
 from whombat.system.settings import Settings
 
 ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent
@@ -24,10 +20,7 @@
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def lifespan(settings: Settings, app: FastAPI):
     """Context manager to run startup and shutdown events."""
-    update_splash_screen("Initializing Whombat...")
     await whombat_init(settings, app)
-    update_splash_screen("Whombat is ready!")
-    close_splash_screen()
     yield
 
 
diff --git a/back/src/whombat/system/boot.py b/back/src/whombat/system/boot.py
index 68666151..62aa1545 100644
--- a/back/src/whombat/system/boot.py
+++ b/back/src/whombat/system/boot.py
@@ -75,24 +75,6 @@ def print_dev_message(settings: Settings):
     )
 
 
-def update_splash_screen(message: str) -> None:
-    try:
-        import pyi_splash  # type: ignore
-
-        pyi_splash.update_text(message)
-    except ImportError:
-        return
-
-
-def close_splash_screen() -> None:
-    try:
-        import pyi_splash  # type: ignore
-
-        pyi_splash.close()
-    except ImportError:
-        return
-
-
 async def whombat_init(settings: Settings, _: FastAPI):
     """Run at initialization."""
 
diff --git a/scripts/bundle_linux.sh b/scripts/bundle_linux.sh
index 8957d3da..ba83efd0 100644
--- a/scripts/bundle_linux.sh
+++ b/scripts/bundle_linux.sh
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ build/.venv/bin/pyinstaller \
     --recursive-copy-metadata "numpy" \
 	--name whombat \
 	--onefile \
-    --splash "../assets/splash.png" \
 	app.py
 
 
diff --git a/scripts/bundle_windows.ps1 b/scripts/bundle_windows.ps1
index a8333fa8..3dcddc2a 100644
--- a/scripts/bundle_windows.ps1
+++ b/scripts/bundle_windows.ps1
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ build\.venv\Scripts\pyinstaller `
     --name whombat `
     --onefile `
     --console `
-    --splash "..\assets\splash.png" `
     app.py