diff --git a/internal/ios/ios.go b/internal/ios/ios.go
index fefcb97..c195b20 100644
--- a/internal/ios/ios.go
+++ b/internal/ios/ios.go
@@ -55,15 +55,12 @@ func EnsureSimulator(ctx context.Context, deviceName string, stdout io.Writer) e
 }
 
 // BootedUDID returns the UDID of the currently booted iOS simulator, or "" if none is booted.
-func BootedUDID(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
-	d, err := bootedSimulator(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
+func BootedUDID(ctx context.Context) string {
+	d, _ := bootedSimulator(ctx)
 	if d == nil {
-		return "", nil
+		return ""
 	}
-	return d.UDID, nil
+	return d.UDID
 }
 
 func bootedSimulator(ctx context.Context) (*simDevice, error) {
diff --git a/internal/ios/ios_test.go b/internal/ios/ios_test.go
index cd29f49..d957fe6 100644
--- a/internal/ios/ios_test.go
+++ b/internal/ios/ios_test.go
@@ -82,10 +82,7 @@ func TestPickSimulator_EmptyList(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBootedUDID_CanceledContext(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	cancel()
-	udid, err := BootedUDID(ctx)
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Error("expected error for canceled context, got nil")
-	}
+	udid := BootedUDID(ctx)
 	if udid != "" {
 		t.Errorf("expected empty UDID on canceled context, got %q", udid)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/testrun/driver.go b/internal/testrun/driver.go
index a0d8539..be3a215 100644
--- a/internal/testrun/driver.go
+++ b/internal/testrun/driver.go
@@ -41,11 +41,7 @@ func buildDriver(ctx context.Context, options Options, stdout io.Writer) (driver
 		"--platform", options.Platform,
 	}
 	if options.Platform == "ios" {
-		udid, err := ios.BootedUDID(ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("find booted simulator: %w", err)
-		}
-		if udid != "" {
+		if udid := ios.BootedUDID(ctx); udid != "" {
 			sidecarArgs = append(sidecarArgs, "--udid", udid)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/sidecar/src/main/kotlin/dev/sanderling/sidecar/DriverBackend.kt b/sidecar/src/main/kotlin/dev/sanderling/sidecar/DriverBackend.kt
index 7cd5741..be6147e 100644
--- a/sidecar/src/main/kotlin/dev/sanderling/sidecar/DriverBackend.kt
+++ b/sidecar/src/main/kotlin/dev/sanderling/sidecar/DriverBackend.kt
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ class IosDriverBackend(private val udid: String) : DriverBackend {
         driver.waitForAppToSettle(null, null, durationMillis.toInt())
     }
 
-    override fun healthy() = true
+    override fun healthy() = runCatching { driver.contentDescriptor(false); true }.getOrElse { false }
 
     override fun metrics(bundleId: String) = MetricsSample(0.0, 0L, 0L)
 }