diff --git a/internal/cmd/start.go b/internal/cmd/start.go
index 9851ef0c..ee3cb16f 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/start.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/start.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/config"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/constants"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/crew"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/daemon"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/deacon"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/git"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/mayor"
@@ -465,6 +466,12 @@ func runGracefulShutdown(t *tmux.Tmux, gtSessions []string, townRoot string) err
 		cleanupPolecats(townRoot)
 	}
 
+	// Phase 6: Stop the daemon
+	fmt.Printf("\nPhase 6: Stopping daemon...\n")
+	if townRoot != "" {
+		stopDaemonIfRunning(townRoot)
+	}
+
 	fmt.Println()
 	fmt.Printf("%s Graceful shutdown complete (%d sessions stopped)\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"), stopped)
 	return nil
@@ -484,6 +491,13 @@ func runImmediateShutdown(t *tmux.Tmux, gtSessions []string, townRoot string) er
 		cleanupPolecats(townRoot)
 	}
 
+	// Stop the daemon
+	if townRoot != "" {
+		fmt.Println()
+		fmt.Println("Stopping daemon...")
+		stopDaemonIfRunning(townRoot)
+	}
+
 	fmt.Println()
 	fmt.Printf("%s Gas Town shutdown complete (%d sessions stopped)\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"), stopped)
 
@@ -633,6 +647,21 @@ func cleanupPolecats(townRoot string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// stopDaemonIfRunning stops the daemon if it is running.
+// This prevents the daemon from restarting agents after shutdown.
+func stopDaemonIfRunning(townRoot string) {
+	running, _, _ := daemon.IsRunning(townRoot)
+	if running {
+		if err := daemon.StopDaemon(townRoot); err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("  %s Daemon: %s\n", style.Dim.Render("○"), err.Error())
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("  %s Daemon stopped\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"))
+		}
+	} else {
+		fmt.Printf("  %s Daemon not running\n", style.Dim.Render("○"))
+	}
+}
+
 // runStartCrew starts a crew workspace, creating it if it doesn't exist.
 // This combines the functionality of 'gt crew add' and 'gt crew at --detached'.
 func runStartCrew(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {