diff --git a/internal/cmd/start.go b/internal/cmd/start.go
index bb52fe26..b0b0436a 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/start.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/start.go
@@ -263,7 +263,20 @@ func startConfiguredCrew(t *tmux.Tmux, townRoot string) {
 		for _, crewName := range crewToStart {
 			sessionID := crewSessionName(r.Name, crewName)
 			if running, _ := t.HasSession(sessionID); running {
-				fmt.Printf("  %s %s/%s already running\n", style.Dim.Render("○"), r.Name, crewName)
+				// Session exists - check if Claude is still running
+				if !t.IsClaudeRunning(sessionID) {
+					// Claude has exited, restart it
+					fmt.Printf("  %s %s/%s session exists, restarting Claude...\n", style.Dim.Render("○"), r.Name, crewName)
+					claudeCmd := config.BuildCrewStartupCommand(r.Name, crewName, r.Path, "gt prime")
+					if err := t.SendKeys(sessionID, claudeCmd); err != nil {
+						fmt.Printf("  %s %s/%s restart failed: %v\n", style.Dim.Render("○"), r.Name, crewName, err)
+					} else {
+						fmt.Printf("  %s %s/%s Claude restarted\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"), r.Name, crewName)
+						startedAny = true
+					}
+				} else {
+					fmt.Printf("  %s %s/%s already running\n", style.Dim.Render("○"), r.Name, crewName)
+				}
 			} else {
 				if err := startCrewMember(r.Name, crewName, townRoot); err != nil {
 					fmt.Printf("  %s %s/%s failed: %v\n", style.Dim.Render("○"), r.Name, crewName, err)