diff --git a/src/thalamus/supervisor.rs b/src/thalamus/supervisor.rs
index b38f9b3..a4c53ec 100644
--- a/src/thalamus/supervisor.rs
+++ b/src/thalamus/supervisor.rs
@@ -111,19 +111,29 @@ impl Supervisor {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Check if a daemon is alive by testing its socket.
+    /// Check if a daemon is alive by testing its socket or PID file.
     fn is_alive(name: &str) -> bool {
+        // Check socket first
         let sock = channels_dir().join(format!("{}.sock", name));
-        if !sock.exists() {
-            return false;
-        }
-        match std::os::unix::net::UnixStream::connect(&sock) {
-            Ok(_) => true,
-            Err(_) => {
-                let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&sock);
-                false
+        if sock.exists() {
+            match std::os::unix::net::UnixStream::connect(&sock) {
+                Ok(_) => return true,
+                Err(_) => { let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&sock); }
             }
         }
+        // Check PID file — daemon may still be starting up
+        let pid_file = channels_dir().join(format!("{}.pid", name));
+        if let Ok(pid_str) = std::fs::read_to_string(&pid_file) {
+            if let Ok(pid) = pid_str.trim().parse::<i32>() {
+                // kill(pid, 0) checks if process exists
+                if unsafe { libc::kill(pid, 0) } == 0 {
+                    return true;
+                }
+                // Process dead, clean up stale PID file
+                let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&pid_file);
+            }
+        }
+        false
     }
 
     /// Ensure all configured autostart daemons are running.
@@ -173,6 +183,8 @@ impl Supervisor {
         {
             Ok(child) => {
                 info!("channel {} started (pid {})", name, child.id());
+                let pid_file = channels_dir().join(format!("{}.pid", name));
+                let _ = std::fs::write(&pid_file, child.id().to_string());
                 self.children.insert(name.to_string(), child);
             }
             Err(e) => error!("failed to start channel {}: {}", name, e),