diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 5f7fd1a..87a6ce3 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -122,12 +122,13 @@ func getPort() (int, error) {
 		return defaultPort, nil
 	}
 
-	port, err := strconv.Atoi(value)
+	// ParseUint, unlike Atoi, refuses a sign: the health check URL cannot use "+9090"
+	port, err := strconv.ParseUint(value, 10, 0)
 	if err != nil || port < 1 || port > maxPort {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("PORT must be a whole number from 1 to %d, got %q", maxPort, value)
 	}
 
-	return port, nil
+	return int(port), nil
 }
 
 // EnsureDirectories creates all necessary directories if they don't exist
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index 1b3bca7..84f9414 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestNewReadsPort(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestNewRefusesInvalidPort(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, value := range []string{"0", "65536", "-1", "http", "80.5"} {
+	for _, value := range []string{"0", "65536", "-1", "+9090", "http", "80.5"} {
 		t.Run(value, func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Setenv("PORT", value)
 			t.Setenv("XDG_DATA_HOME", "")