diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/api/routes.py b/server/src/wled_controller/api/routes.py
index 2070f06..036465f 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/api/routes.py
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/api/routes.py
@@ -930,9 +930,8 @@ async def test_template(
                 )
             )
 
-        # Create and initialize engine
+        # Create engine (auto-initializes on first capture)
         engine = EngineRegistry.create_engine(test_request.engine_type, test_request.engine_config)
-        engine.initialize()
 
         # Run sustained capture test
         logger.info(f"Starting {test_request.capture_duration}s capture test with {test_request.engine_type}")
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/core/capture_engines/dxcam_engine.py b/server/src/wled_controller/core/capture_engines/dxcam_engine.py
index 4748925..7ab2927 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/core/capture_engines/dxcam_engine.py
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/core/capture_engines/dxcam_engine.py
@@ -168,12 +168,12 @@ class DXcamEngine(CaptureEngine):
             ScreenCapture object with image data
 
         Raises:
-            RuntimeError: If not initialized
             ValueError: If display_index doesn't match configured output
             RuntimeError: If capture fails
         """
+        # Auto-initialize if not already initialized
         if not self._initialized:
-            raise RuntimeError("Engine not initialized")
+            self.initialize()
 
         # DXcam is configured for a specific output
         configured_output = self.config.get("output_idx", 0)
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/core/capture_engines/mss_engine.py b/server/src/wled_controller/core/capture_engines/mss_engine.py
index dc8fc28..1187f33 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/core/capture_engines/mss_engine.py
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/core/capture_engines/mss_engine.py
@@ -115,12 +115,12 @@ class MSSEngine(CaptureEngine):
             ScreenCapture object with image data
 
         Raises:
-            RuntimeError: If not initialized
             ValueError: If display_index is invalid
             RuntimeError: If capture fails
         """
+        # Auto-initialize if not already initialized
         if not self._initialized:
-            raise RuntimeError("Engine not initialized")
+            self.initialize()
 
         try:
             # mss monitors[0] is the combined screen, monitors[1+] are individual displays