diff --git a/btqs/btqs_cli.py b/btqs/btqs_cli.py
index a2ba7940d..90b47f2e9 100644
--- a/btqs/btqs_cli.py
+++ b/btqs/btqs_cli.py
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.fast_blocks = True
         self.workspace_path = None
         self.subtensor_branch = None
+        self.skip_rust = None
         self.steps = [
             {
                 "title": "Start Local Subtensor",
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ def __init__(self):
                     branch=self.subtensor_branch,
                     fast_blocks=self.fast_blocks,
                     verbose=self.verbose,
+                    skip_rust=self.skip_rust,
                 ),
             },
             {
@@ -142,6 +144,9 @@ def start_chain(
         verbose: bool = typer.Option(
             False, "--verbose", "-v", help="Enable verbose output"
         ),
+        skip_rust: bool = typer.Option(
+            False, "--skip-rust", help="Skip Rust installation"
+        ),
     ):
         """
         Starts the local Subtensor chain.
@@ -187,6 +192,7 @@ def start_chain(
             branch,
             fast_blocks=fast_blocks,
             verbose=verbose,
+            skip_rust=skip_rust,
         )
 
     def stop_chain(self):
@@ -237,6 +243,9 @@ def run_all(
         verbose: bool = typer.Option(
             False, "--verbose", "-v", help="Enable verbose output"
         ),
+        skip_rust: bool = typer.Option(
+            False, "--skip-rust", help="Skip Rust installation"
+        ),
     ):
         """
         Runs all commands in sequence to set up and start the local chain, subnet, and neurons.
@@ -245,6 +254,7 @@ def run_all(
         self.workspace_path = workspace_path
         self.fast_blocks = fast_blocks
         self.verbose = verbose
+        self.skip_rust = skip_rust
 
         console.clear()
         print_info("Welcome to the Bittensor Quick Start Tutorial", emoji="🚀")
diff --git a/btqs/commands/chain.py b/btqs/commands/chain.py
index 0d7225d4c..68db90b62 100644
--- a/btqs/commands/chain.py
+++ b/btqs/commands/chain.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import sys
 import os
 import subprocess
 import time
@@ -209,7 +210,7 @@ async def sudo_set_tempo(
         return await response.is_success
 
 
-def start(config_data, workspace_path, branch, fast_blocks=True, verbose=False):
+def start(config_data, workspace_path, branch, fast_blocks=True, verbose=False, skip_rust=False):
     os.makedirs(workspace_path, exist_ok=True)
     subtensor_path = os.path.join(workspace_path, "subtensor")
 
@@ -250,11 +251,17 @@ def start(config_data, workspace_path, branch, fast_blocks=True, verbose=False):
     else:
         print_info("Fast blocks are Off", emoji="🐌 ")
 
-    venv_subtensor_path = os.path.join(workspace_path, "venv_subtensor")
-    venv_python = create_virtualenv(venv_subtensor_path)
-    install_subtensor_dependencies(verbose)
-
-    config_data["venv_subtensor"] = venv_python
+    if skip_rust:
+        venv_python = sys.executable
+        print_info("Skipping Rust installation", emoji="🦘 ")
+        config_data["venv_subtensor"] = "None"
+        venv_subtensor_path = "None"
+    else:
+        venv_subtensor_path = os.path.join(workspace_path, "venv_subtensor")
+        venv_python = create_virtualenv(venv_subtensor_path)
+        install_subtensor_dependencies(verbose)
+        print_info("Virtual environment created and dependencies installed.", emoji="🐍 ")
+        config_data["venv_subtensor"] = venv_python
 
     # Running localnet.sh using the virtual environment's Python
     localnet_path = os.path.join(subtensor_path, "scripts", "localnet.sh")
diff --git a/btqs/commands/subnet.py b/btqs/commands/subnet.py
index 16d73a6f6..9de3ca862 100644
--- a/btqs/commands/subnet.py
+++ b/btqs/commands/subnet.py
@@ -149,12 +149,16 @@ def add_weights(config_data):
             hotkey=owner_data.get("hotkey"),
         )
         print_info(
-            "Validator is now setting weights of subnet 1 on the root network.\n Please wait... (Timeout: 60 seconds)",
+            "Validator is now setting weights of subnet 1 on the root network.\n Please wait... (Timeout: ~ 120 seconds)",
             emoji="🏋️ ",
         )
-        max_retries = 30
+        max_retries = 60
         attempt = 0
-        retry_patterns = ["ancient birth block", "Transaction has a bad signature"]
+        retry_patterns = [
+            "ancient birth block",
+            "Transaction has a bad signature",
+            "SettingWeightsTooFast",
+        ]
 
         while attempt < max_retries:
             try: