diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 131cda4..88d1ede 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ if [ "$choice" = "y" ]; then
         echo "building backend!"
         cd backend
         ./gradlew shadowJar
+        systemctl restart nelle-observer-api
     elif [ "$choice" = "n" ]; then
         echo "exiting..."
     elif [ "$choice" = "c" ]; then
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ elif [ "$choice" = "n" ]; then
         echo "building backend!"
         cd backend
         ./gradlew shadowJar
+        systemctl restart nelle-observer-api
     elif [ "$choice" = "n" ]; then
         echo "exiting..."
     elif [ "$choice" = "c" ]; then