diff --git a/scripts/deploy-remote.sh b/scripts/deploy-remote.sh
index f4122d7..d545ff0 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy-remote.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy-remote.sh
@@ -1023,6 +1023,10 @@ wait_port_free() {
 
 deploy_llm_large() {
     retire_root_llm_large
+    # The predecessor can also be THIS quadlet -- a redeploy of a running
+    # frank-large -- so stop the user unit before waiting on the port. On a
+    # first cutover it is not running and this is a no-op.
+    systemctl --user stop frank-large.service 2>/dev/null || true
     # Pull once, then run the localhost/-aliased tag: this host's quadlet path
     # cannot resolve registry-prefixed refs from local storage at create time
     # (same workaround as anubis/hermes), and Pull=never keeps boots off the