diff --git a/hermes_cli/gateway.py b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
index 92cfefa7..197c0574 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/gateway.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
@@ -948,13 +948,24 @@ def launchd_uninstall():
     print("✓ Service uninstalled")
 
 def launchd_start():
-    refresh_launchd_plist_if_needed()
     plist_path = get_launchd_plist_path()
     label = get_launchd_label()
+
+    # Self-heal if the plist is missing entirely (e.g., manual cleanup, failed upgrade)
+    if not plist_path.exists():
+        print("↻ launchd plist missing; regenerating service definition")
+        plist_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        plist_path.write_text(generate_launchd_plist(), encoding="utf-8")
+        subprocess.run(["launchctl", "load", str(plist_path)], check=True)
+        subprocess.run(["launchctl", "start", label], check=True)
+        print("✓ Service started")
+        return
+
+    refresh_launchd_plist_if_needed()
     try:
         subprocess.run(["launchctl", "start", label], check=True)
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-        if e.returncode != 3 or not plist_path.exists():
+        if e.returncode != 3:
             raise
         print("↻ launchd job was unloaded; reloading service definition")
         subprocess.run(["launchctl", "load", str(plist_path)], check=True)
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_gateway_restart.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_gateway_restart.py
index ce74f3f6..89ac8421 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_gateway_restart.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_update_gateway_restart.py
@@ -240,6 +240,33 @@ class TestLaunchdPlistRefresh:
         assert any("unload" in s for s in cmd_strs)
         assert any("start" in s for s in cmd_strs)
 
+    def test_launchd_start_recreates_missing_plist_and_loads_service(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        """launchd_start self-heals when the plist file is missing entirely."""
+        plist_path = tmp_path / "ai.hermes.gateway.plist"
+        assert not plist_path.exists()
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "get_launchd_plist_path", lambda: plist_path)
+
+        calls = []
+        def fake_run(cmd, check=False, **kwargs):
+            calls.append(cmd)
+            return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli.subprocess, "run", fake_run)
+
+        gateway_cli.launchd_start()
+
+        # Should have created the plist
+        assert plist_path.exists()
+        assert "--replace" in plist_path.read_text()
+
+        cmd_strs = [" ".join(c) for c in calls]
+        # Should load the new plist, then start
+        assert any("load" in s for s in cmd_strs)
+        assert any("start" in s for s in cmd_strs)
+        # Should NOT call unload (nothing to unload)
+        assert not any("unload" in s for s in cmd_strs)
+
 
 class TestCmdUpdateLaunchdRestart:
     """cmd_update correctly detects and handles launchd on macOS."""