diff --git a/alpaca_trader/api.py b/alpaca_trader/api.py
index 7c58adc..37916b8 100644
--- a/alpaca_trader/api.py
+++ b/alpaca_trader/api.py
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 import time
+import logging
 import backoff
 import alpaca_trade_api as tradeapi
 
+logging.getLogger('backoff').setLevel(logging.CRITICAL)
+
+
+def _is_position_not_found(e):
+    return isinstance(e, tradeapi.rest.APIError) and "position does not exist" in str(e)
+
 
 class AlpacaClient:
     def __init__(self, api_key_id, api_secret_key, base_url, api_version="v2"):
@@ -50,7 +57,7 @@ class AlpacaClient:
     def close_all_positions(self):
         return self.api.close_all_positions()
     
-    @backoff.on_exception(backoff.expo, (tradeapi.rest.APIError, ConnectionError), max_tries=5, jitter=backoff.full_jitter)
+    @backoff.on_exception(backoff.expo, (tradeapi.rest.APIError, ConnectionError), max_tries=5, jitter=backoff.full_jitter, giveup=_is_position_not_found)
     def get_position(self, symbol):
         return self.api.get_position(symbol)
     
diff --git a/alpaca_trader/engine.py b/alpaca_trader/engine.py
index 1dfbb06..61ce300 100644
--- a/alpaca_trader/engine.py
+++ b/alpaca_trader/engine.py
@@ -1327,6 +1327,7 @@ def main():
                 max_intraday_drawdown = 0
                 last_indicator_log = datetime.now(EASTERN)
                 
+                logger.info("🔎  Checking for existing positions...")
                 try:
                     existing_position = api.get_position(SYMBOL)
                     qty = float(existing_position.qty)
@@ -1360,7 +1361,8 @@ def main():
                         if USE_TRAILING_STOP:
                             position_state.trailing_stop = stop_loss
                 except Exception as e:
-                    debug_print(f"No existing position found or error during recovery: {e}")
+                    logger.info("🔎  No open positions found")
+                    debug_logger.debug(f"Position check exception: {e}")
                 
                 retry_count = 0
                 max_retries = 3