diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts
index ca11225e7bc..1ff4e738c29 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/workspace-runtime.test.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import { eq } from "drizzle-orm";
 import {
   buildWorkspaceRuntimeDesiredStatePatch,
   cleanupExecutionWorkspaceArtifacts,
+  ensurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable,
   ensureServerWorkspaceLinksCurrent,
   ensureRuntimeServicesForRun,
   listConfiguredRuntimeServiceEntries,
@@ -1447,6 +1448,187 @@ describe("realizeExecutionWorkspace", () => {
     expect(actualHead).toBe(expectedHead);
   });
 
+  it("reattaches a missing persisted git worktree before manual control starts it", async () => {
+    const repoRoot = await createTempRepo();
+    const branchName = "PAP-451-restore-persisted-worktree";
+    await fs.mkdir(path.join(repoRoot, "scripts"), { recursive: true });
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      path.join(repoRoot, "scripts", "restore.sh"),
+      [
+        "#!/usr/bin/env bash",
+        "set -euo pipefail",
+        "printf '%s\\n' \"$PAPERCLIP_WORKSPACE_BRANCH\" > .paperclip-restored-branch",
+      ].join("\n"),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    await fs.chmod(path.join(repoRoot, "scripts", "restore.sh"), 0o755);
+    await runGit(repoRoot, ["add", "scripts/restore.sh"]);
+    await runGit(repoRoot, ["commit", "-m", "Add restore script"]);
+
+    await runGit(repoRoot, ["checkout", "-b", branchName]);
+    await fs.writeFile(path.join(repoRoot, "feature.txt"), "persisted\n", "utf8");
+    await runGit(repoRoot, ["add", "feature.txt"]);
+    await runGit(repoRoot, ["commit", "-m", "Add persisted feature"]);
+    const expectedHead = (await execFileAsync("git", ["rev-parse", branchName], { cwd: repoRoot })).stdout.trim();
+    await runGit(repoRoot, ["checkout", "main"]);
+
+    const initial = await realizeExecutionWorkspace({
+      base: {
+        baseCwd: repoRoot,
+        source: "project_primary",
+        projectId: "project-1",
+        workspaceId: "workspace-1",
+        repoUrl: null,
+        repoRef: "HEAD",
+      },
+      config: {
+        workspaceStrategy: {
+          type: "git_worktree",
+          branchTemplate: "{{issue.identifier}}-{{slug}}",
+          provisionCommand: "bash ./scripts/restore.sh",
+        },
+      },
+      issue: {
+        id: "issue-1",
+        identifier: "PAP-451",
+        title: "Restore persisted worktree",
+      },
+      agent: {
+        id: "agent-1",
+        name: "Codex Coder",
+        companyId: "company-1",
+      },
+    });
+
+    await fs.rm(initial.cwd, { recursive: true, force: true });
+
+    const restored = await ensurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable({
+      base: {
+        baseCwd: repoRoot,
+        source: "project_primary",
+        projectId: "project-1",
+        workspaceId: "workspace-1",
+        repoUrl: null,
+        repoRef: "HEAD",
+      },
+      workspace: {
+        mode: "isolated_workspace",
+        strategyType: "git_worktree",
+        cwd: initial.cwd,
+        providerRef: initial.worktreePath,
+        projectId: "project-1",
+        projectWorkspaceId: "workspace-1",
+        repoUrl: null,
+        baseRef: "HEAD",
+        branchName,
+        config: {
+          provisionCommand: "bash ./scripts/restore.sh",
+        },
+      },
+      issue: {
+        id: "issue-1",
+        identifier: "PAP-451",
+        title: "Restore persisted worktree",
+      },
+      agent: {
+        id: "agent-1",
+        name: "Codex Coder",
+        companyId: "company-1",
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(restored).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(restored?.cwd).toBe(initial.cwd);
+    await expect(fs.readFile(path.join(initial.cwd, "feature.txt"), "utf8")).resolves.toBe("persisted\n");
+    await expect(fs.readFile(path.join(initial.cwd, ".paperclip-restored-branch"), "utf8")).resolves.toBe(`${branchName}\n`);
+    const actualHead = (await execFileAsync("git", ["rev-parse", "HEAD"], { cwd: initial.cwd })).stdout.trim();
+    expect(actualHead).toBe(expectedHead);
+  });
+
+  it("reprovisions an existing persisted git worktree before manual control starts it", async () => {
+    const repoRoot = await createTempRepo();
+    await fs.mkdir(path.join(repoRoot, "scripts"), { recursive: true });
+    await fs.writeFile(
+      path.join(repoRoot, "scripts", "restore.sh"),
+      [
+        "#!/usr/bin/env bash",
+        "set -euo pipefail",
+        "printf 'reprovisioned\\n' > .paperclip-restored-state",
+      ].join("\n"),
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    await fs.chmod(path.join(repoRoot, "scripts", "restore.sh"), 0o755);
+    await runGit(repoRoot, ["add", "scripts/restore.sh"]);
+    await runGit(repoRoot, ["commit", "-m", "Add reprovision script"]);
+
+    const initial = await realizeExecutionWorkspace({
+      base: {
+        baseCwd: repoRoot,
+        source: "project_primary",
+        projectId: "project-1",
+        workspaceId: "workspace-1",
+        repoUrl: null,
+        repoRef: "HEAD",
+      },
+      config: {
+        workspaceStrategy: {
+          type: "git_worktree",
+          branchTemplate: "{{issue.identifier}}-{{slug}}",
+          provisionCommand: "bash ./scripts/restore.sh",
+        },
+      },
+      issue: {
+        id: "issue-1",
+        identifier: "PAP-452",
+        title: "Reprovision persisted worktree",
+      },
+      agent: {
+        id: "agent-1",
+        name: "Codex Coder",
+        companyId: "company-1",
+      },
+    });
+
+    await fs.rm(path.join(initial.cwd, ".paperclip-restored-state"), { force: true });
+
+    await ensurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable({
+      base: {
+        baseCwd: repoRoot,
+        source: "project_primary",
+        projectId: "project-1",
+        workspaceId: "workspace-1",
+        repoUrl: null,
+        repoRef: "HEAD",
+      },
+      workspace: {
+        mode: "isolated_workspace",
+        strategyType: "git_worktree",
+        cwd: initial.cwd,
+        providerRef: initial.worktreePath,
+        projectId: "project-1",
+        projectWorkspaceId: "workspace-1",
+        repoUrl: null,
+        baseRef: "HEAD",
+        branchName: initial.branchName,
+        config: {
+          provisionCommand: "bash ./scripts/restore.sh",
+        },
+      },
+      issue: {
+        id: "issue-1",
+        identifier: "PAP-452",
+        title: "Reprovision persisted worktree",
+      },
+      agent: {
+        id: "agent-1",
+        name: "Codex Coder",
+        companyId: "company-1",
+      },
+    });
+
+    await expect(fs.readFile(path.join(initial.cwd, ".paperclip-restored-state"), "utf8")).resolves.toBe("reprovisioned\n");
+  });
+
   it("auto-detects the default branch when baseRef is not configured", async () => {
     // Create a repo with "master" as default branch (not "main")
     const repoRoot = await createTempRepo("master");
diff --git a/server/src/routes/execution-workspaces.ts b/server/src/routes/execution-workspaces.ts
index 26e35cfa44f..963be2ed7be 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/execution-workspaces.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/execution-workspaces.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { readProjectWorkspaceRuntimeConfig } from "../services/project-workspace
 import {
   buildWorkspaceRuntimeDesiredStatePatch,
   cleanupExecutionWorkspaceArtifacts,
+  ensurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable,
   listConfiguredRuntimeServiceEntries,
   runWorkspaceJobForControl,
   startRuntimeServicesForWorkspaceControl,
@@ -123,6 +124,20 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db) {
     const projectWorkspaceRuntime = readProjectWorkspaceRuntimeConfig(
       (projectWorkspace?.metadata as Record<string, unknown> | null) ?? null,
     )?.workspaceRuntime ?? null;
+    const projectPolicy = existing.projectId
+      ? await db
+          .select({
+            executionWorkspacePolicy: projects.executionWorkspacePolicy,
+          })
+          .from(projects)
+          .where(
+            and(
+              eq(projects.id, existing.projectId),
+              eq(projects.companyId, existing.companyId),
+            ),
+          )
+          .then((rows) => parseProjectExecutionWorkspacePolicy(rows[0]?.executionWorkspacePolicy))
+      : null;
     const effectiveRuntimeConfig = existing.config?.workspaceRuntime ?? projectWorkspaceRuntime ?? null;
     const target = req.body as { workspaceCommandId?: string | null; runtimeServiceId?: string | null; serviceIndex?: number | null };
     const configuredServices = effectiveRuntimeConfig
@@ -197,10 +212,57 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db) {
         serviceIndex: selectedServiceIndex,
       },
       run: async () => {
+        const ensureWorkspaceAvailable = async () =>
+          await ensurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable({
+            base: {
+              baseCwd: projectWorkspace?.cwd ?? workspaceCwd,
+              source: existing.mode === "shared_workspace" ? "project_primary" : "task_session",
+              projectId: existing.projectId,
+              workspaceId: existing.projectWorkspaceId,
+              repoUrl: existing.repoUrl,
+              repoRef: existing.baseRef,
+            },
+            workspace: {
+              mode: existing.mode,
+              strategyType: existing.strategyType,
+              cwd: existing.cwd,
+              providerRef: existing.providerRef,
+              projectId: existing.projectId,
+              projectWorkspaceId: existing.projectWorkspaceId,
+              repoUrl: existing.repoUrl,
+              baseRef: existing.baseRef,
+              branchName: existing.branchName,
+              config: {
+                ...existing.config,
+                provisionCommand:
+                  existing.config?.provisionCommand
+                  ?? projectPolicy?.workspaceStrategy?.provisionCommand
+                  ?? null,
+              },
+            },
+            issue: existing.sourceIssueId
+              ? {
+                  id: existing.sourceIssueId,
+                  identifier: null,
+                  title: existing.name,
+                }
+              : null,
+            agent: {
+              id: actor.agentId ?? null,
+              name: actor.actorType === "user" ? "Board" : "Agent",
+              companyId: existing.companyId,
+            },
+            recorder,
+          });
+
         if (action === "run") {
           if (!workspaceCommand || workspaceCommand.kind !== "job") {
             throw new Error("Workspace job selection is required");
           }
+          const availableWorkspace = await ensureWorkspaceAvailable();
+          if (!availableWorkspace) {
+            throw new Error("Execution workspace needs a local path before Paperclip can run workspace commands");
+          }
           return await runWorkspaceJobForControl({
             actor: {
               id: actor.agentId ?? null,
@@ -214,20 +276,7 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db) {
                   title: existing.name,
                 }
               : null,
-            workspace: {
-              baseCwd: workspaceCwd,
-              source: existing.mode === "shared_workspace" ? "project_primary" : "task_session",
-              projectId: existing.projectId,
-              workspaceId: existing.projectWorkspaceId,
-              repoUrl: existing.repoUrl,
-              repoRef: existing.baseRef,
-              strategy: existing.strategyType === "git_worktree" ? "git_worktree" : "project_primary",
-              cwd: workspaceCwd,
-              branchName: existing.branchName,
-              worktreePath: existing.strategyType === "git_worktree" ? workspaceCwd : null,
-              warnings: [],
-              created: false,
-            },
+            workspace: availableWorkspace,
             command: workspaceCommand.rawConfig,
             adapterEnv: {},
             recorder,
@@ -261,6 +310,10 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db) {
         }
 
         if (action === "start" || action === "restart") {
+          const availableWorkspace = await ensureWorkspaceAvailable();
+          if (!availableWorkspace) {
+            throw new Error("Execution workspace needs a local path before Paperclip can manage local runtime services");
+          }
           const startedServices = await startRuntimeServicesForWorkspaceControl({
             db,
             actor: {
@@ -275,20 +328,7 @@ export function executionWorkspaceRoutes(db: Db) {
                   title: existing.name,
                 }
               : null,
-            workspace: {
-              baseCwd: workspaceCwd,
-              source: existing.mode === "shared_workspace" ? "project_primary" : "task_session",
-              projectId: existing.projectId,
-              workspaceId: existing.projectWorkspaceId,
-              repoUrl: existing.repoUrl,
-              repoRef: existing.baseRef,
-              strategy: existing.strategyType === "git_worktree" ? "git_worktree" : "project_primary",
-              cwd: workspaceCwd,
-              branchName: existing.branchName,
-              worktreePath: existing.strategyType === "git_worktree" ? workspaceCwd : null,
-              warnings: [],
-              created: false,
-            },
+            workspace: availableWorkspace,
             executionWorkspaceId: existing.id,
             config: { workspaceRuntime: effectiveRuntimeConfig },
             adapterEnv: {},
diff --git a/server/src/services/workspace-runtime.ts b/server/src/services/workspace-runtime.ts
index b7dac8d69b6..fc9aa64e51b 100644
--- a/server/src/services/workspace-runtime.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/workspace-runtime.ts
@@ -1160,6 +1160,147 @@ export async function realizeExecutionWorkspace(input: {
   };
 }
 
+export async function ensurePersistedExecutionWorkspaceAvailable(input: {
+  base: ExecutionWorkspaceInput;
+  workspace: {
+    mode: string | null | undefined;
+    strategyType: string | null | undefined;
+    cwd: string | null | undefined;
+    providerRef: string | null | undefined;
+    projectId: string | null | undefined;
+    projectWorkspaceId: string | null | undefined;
+    repoUrl: string | null | undefined;
+    baseRef: string | null | undefined;
+    branchName: string | null | undefined;
+    config?: {
+      provisionCommand?: string | null;
+    } | null;
+  };
+  issue: ExecutionWorkspaceIssueRef | null;
+  agent: ExecutionWorkspaceAgentRef;
+  recorder?: WorkspaceOperationRecorder | null;
+}): Promise<RealizedExecutionWorkspace | null> {
+  const cwd = asString(input.workspace.cwd ?? input.workspace.providerRef, "").trim();
+  if (!cwd) return null;
+
+  const strategy = input.workspace.strategyType === "git_worktree" ? "git_worktree" : "project_primary";
+  const realized: RealizedExecutionWorkspace = {
+    baseCwd: input.base.baseCwd,
+    source: input.workspace.mode === "shared_workspace" ? "project_primary" : "task_session",
+    projectId: input.workspace.projectId ?? input.base.projectId,
+    workspaceId: input.workspace.projectWorkspaceId ?? input.base.workspaceId,
+    repoUrl: input.workspace.repoUrl ?? input.base.repoUrl,
+    repoRef: input.workspace.baseRef ?? input.base.repoRef,
+    strategy,
+    cwd,
+    branchName: input.workspace.branchName ?? null,
+    worktreePath: strategy === "git_worktree" ? (input.workspace.providerRef ?? cwd) : null,
+    warnings: [],
+    created: false,
+  };
+  const provisionCommand = asString(input.workspace.config?.provisionCommand, "").trim();
+
+  if (strategy !== "git_worktree") {
+    return realized;
+  }
+  if (await directoryExists(cwd)) {
+    if (provisionCommand) {
+      const repoRoot = await runGit(["rev-parse", "--show-toplevel"], input.base.baseCwd);
+      await provisionExecutionWorktree({
+        strategy: {
+          type: "git_worktree",
+          provisionCommand,
+        },
+        base: input.base,
+        repoRoot,
+        worktreePath: realized.worktreePath ?? cwd,
+        branchName: realized.branchName ?? "",
+        issue: input.issue,
+        agent: input.agent,
+        created: false,
+        recorder: input.recorder ?? null,
+      });
+    }
+    return realized;
+  }
+
+  const repoRoot = await runGit(["rev-parse", "--show-toplevel"], input.base.baseCwd);
+  const worktreePath = realized.worktreePath ?? cwd;
+  const branchName = asString(input.workspace.branchName, "").trim();
+  if (!branchName) {
+    throw new Error(`Execution workspace "${cwd}" is missing and cannot be restored because no branch name is recorded.`);
+  }
+
+  await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(worktreePath), { recursive: true });
+  await runGit(["worktree", "prune"], repoRoot).catch(() => {});
+
+  let created = false;
+  try {
+    await recordGitOperation(input.recorder, {
+      phase: "worktree_prepare",
+      args: ["worktree", "add", worktreePath, branchName],
+      cwd: repoRoot,
+      metadata: {
+        repoRoot,
+        worktreePath,
+        branchName,
+        baseRef: input.workspace.baseRef ?? input.base.repoRef ?? null,
+        created: false,
+        restored: true,
+      },
+      successMessage: `Reattached missing git worktree at ${worktreePath}\n`,
+      failureLabel: `git worktree add ${worktreePath}`,
+    });
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (
+      !gitErrorIncludes(error, "invalid reference")
+      && !gitErrorIncludes(error, "not a commit")
+      && !gitErrorIncludes(error, "unknown revision")
+    ) {
+      throw error;
+    }
+    const baseRef = input.workspace.baseRef ?? await detectDefaultBranch(repoRoot) ?? "HEAD";
+    await recordGitOperation(input.recorder, {
+      phase: "worktree_prepare",
+      args: ["worktree", "add", "-b", branchName, worktreePath, baseRef],
+      cwd: repoRoot,
+      metadata: {
+        repoRoot,
+        worktreePath,
+        branchName,
+        baseRef,
+        created: true,
+        restored: true,
+      },
+      successMessage: `Recreated missing git worktree at ${worktreePath}\n`,
+      failureLabel: `git worktree add ${worktreePath}`,
+    });
+    created = true;
+  }
+
+  await provisionExecutionWorktree({
+    strategy: {
+      type: "git_worktree",
+      ...(provisionCommand ? { provisionCommand } : {}),
+    },
+    base: input.base,
+    repoRoot,
+    worktreePath,
+    branchName,
+    issue: input.issue,
+    agent: input.agent,
+    created,
+    recorder: input.recorder ?? null,
+  });
+
+  return {
+    ...realized,
+    cwd: worktreePath,
+    worktreePath,
+    created,
+  };
+}
+
 export async function cleanupExecutionWorkspaceArtifacts(input: {
   workspace: {
     id: string;