diff --git a/hermes_cli/gateway.py b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
index 1348e3155..c99761d5c 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/gateway.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/gateway.py
@@ -1121,7 +1121,7 @@ def launchd_start():
     try:
         subprocess.run(["launchctl", "kickstart", f"{_launchd_domain()}/{label}"], check=True, timeout=30)
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-        if e.returncode != 3:
+        if e.returncode not in (3, 113):
             raise
         print("↻ launchd job was unloaded; reloading service definition")
         subprocess.run(["launchctl", "bootstrap", _launchd_domain(), str(plist_path)], check=True, timeout=30)
@@ -1183,7 +1183,7 @@ def launchd_restart():
         subprocess.run(["launchctl", "kickstart", "-k", target], check=True, timeout=90)
         print("✓ Service restarted")
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-        if e.returncode != 3:
+        if e.returncode not in (3, 113):
             raise
         # Job not loaded — bootstrap and start fresh
         print("↻ launchd job was unloaded; reloading")
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
index b08fb46c3..03c9c56ec 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
@@ -205,6 +205,33 @@ class TestLaunchdServiceRecovery:
             ["launchctl", "kickstart", target],
         ]
 
+    def test_launchd_start_reloads_on_kickstart_exit_code_113(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        """Exit code 113 (\"Could not find service\") should also trigger bootstrap recovery."""
+        plist_path = tmp_path / "ai.hermes.gateway.plist"
+        plist_path.write_text(gateway_cli.generate_launchd_plist(), encoding="utf-8")
+        label = gateway_cli.get_launchd_label()
+
+        calls = []
+        domain = gateway_cli._launchd_domain()
+        target = f"{domain}/{label}"
+
+        def fake_run(cmd, check=False, **kwargs):
+            calls.append(cmd)
+            if cmd == ["launchctl", "kickstart", target] and calls.count(cmd) == 1:
+                raise gateway_cli.subprocess.CalledProcessError(113, cmd, stderr="Could not find service")
+            return SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "get_launchd_plist_path", lambda: plist_path)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli.subprocess, "run", fake_run)
+
+        gateway_cli.launchd_start()
+
+        assert calls == [
+            ["launchctl", "kickstart", target],
+            ["launchctl", "bootstrap", domain, str(plist_path)],
+            ["launchctl", "kickstart", target],
+        ]
+
     def test_launchd_status_reports_local_stale_plist_when_unloaded(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys):
         plist_path = tmp_path / "ai.hermes.gateway.plist"
         plist_path.write_text("<plist>old content</plist>", encoding="utf-8")