diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events.rs
index 21b5794995..2033003bc8 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events.rs
@@ -478,6 +478,25 @@ pub fn apply_persona_snapshot(record: &mut ManagedAgentRecord, persona: &AgentDe
     record.model = snapshot.model;
     record.provider = snapshot.provider;
     record.runtime = snapshot.runtime;
+    // Drop a stale create-time harness pin when the definition names a
+    // different known runtime; custom commands stay pinned.
+    if let Some(def_runtime) = persona
+        .runtime
+        .as_deref()
+        .map(str::trim)
+        .filter(|r| !r.is_empty())
+        .and_then(crate::managed_agents::known_acp_runtime_exact)
+    {
+        if let Some(pin_runtime) = record
+            .agent_command_override
+            .as_deref()
+            .and_then(crate::managed_agents::known_acp_runtime)
+        {
+            if !std::ptr::eq(pin_runtime, def_runtime) {
+                record.agent_command_override = None;
+            }
+        }
+    }
     // env_vars stay overrides-only. Self-heal records written before the env
     // refresh: persona env used to be baked into `record.env_vars`, turning
     // inherited values into pseudo-overrides that shadow later persona edits.
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/spawn_hash/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/spawn_hash/tests.rs
index 1f53a365f3..203863b0ed 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/spawn_hash/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/spawn_hash/tests.rs
@@ -366,21 +366,39 @@ fn definition_runtime_edit_changes_hash_for_materialized_record() {
     );
 }
 
-/// (c) An explicit agent_command_override (ladder step 1) must beat a
-/// changed definition runtime — the badge must NOT fire for a pinned instance.
+/// (c) A pin naming a KNOWN runtime no longer beats a changed definition
+/// runtime — apply_persona_snapshot clears the stale pin, so the badge fires.
 #[test]
-fn agent_command_override_beats_definition_runtime_change() {
+fn known_runtime_pin_yields_to_definition_runtime_change() {
     let mut rec = record();
     rec.persona_id = Some("pers".into());
     rec.runtime = Some("goose".into()); // materialized runtime
-    rec.agent_command_override = Some("goose".into()); // explicit per-instance pin
+    rec.agent_command_override = Some("goose".into()); // create-time pin
+
+    let before = [persona("pers", Some("goose"), "prompt")];
+    let after = [persona("pers", Some("claude"), "prompt")];
+    assert_ne!(
+        spawn_config_hash(&rec, &before, &[], "wss://ws.example", &Default::default()),
+        spawn_config_hash(&rec, &after, &[], "wss://ws.example", &Default::default()),
+        "stale known-runtime pin must not shadow a definition runtime edit"
+    );
+}
+
+/// (c2) A custom-command override (no matching known runtime) still beats a
+/// changed definition runtime — the badge must NOT fire for such a pin.
+#[test]
+fn custom_command_override_beats_definition_runtime_change() {
+    let mut rec = record();
+    rec.persona_id = Some("pers".into());
+    rec.runtime = Some("goose".into()); // materialized runtime
+    rec.agent_command_override = Some("/opt/custom/my-agent".into());
 
     let before = [persona("pers", Some("goose"), "prompt")];
     let after = [persona("pers", Some("claude"), "prompt")];
     assert_eq!(
         spawn_config_hash(&rec, &before, &[], "wss://ws.example", &Default::default()),
         spawn_config_hash(&rec, &after, &[], "wss://ws.example", &Default::default()),
-        "explicit override must win regardless of definition runtime change"
+        "custom command override must win regardless of definition runtime change"
     );
 }
 
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
index 09e8d51487..c1f713d230 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
@@ -32,13 +32,9 @@ import {
   buildInstanceInputForDefinition,
   resolveStartRuntimeForDefinition,
 } from "@/features/agents/lib/instanceInputForDefinition";
-import {
-  isManagedAgentActive,
-  startManagedAgentWithRules,
-  stopManagedAgentWithRules,
-} from "@/features/agents/lib/managedAgentControlActions";
 import { describeLogFile } from "@/features/agents/ui/agentUi";
 import { AgentDialog } from "@/features/agents/ui/AgentDialog";
+import { useAgentLifecycleActions } from "@/features/profile/ui/useAgentLifecycleActions";
 import {
   consumePendingOpenEditAgent,
   type EditAgentFocusTarget,
@@ -451,42 +447,14 @@ export function UserProfilePanel({
     ],
   );
 
-  const handleAgentPrimaryAction = React.useCallback(async () => {
-    if (!managedAgent) return;
-
-    try {
-      if (isManagedAgentActive(managedAgent)) {
-        const result = await stopManagedAgentWithRules({
-          agent: managedAgent,
-          channels: channelsQuery.data ?? [],
-          relayAgents: relayAgentsQuery.data ?? [],
-          stopManagedAgent: stopAgentMutation.mutateAsync,
-        });
-        toast.success(result.noticeMessage ?? `Stopped ${managedAgent.name}.`);
-        return;
-      }
-
-      await startManagedAgentWithRules({
-        agent: managedAgent,
-        startManagedAgent: startAgentMutation.mutateAsync,
-      });
-      toast.success(
-        managedAgent.backend.type === "provider"
-          ? `Deploying ${managedAgent.name}.`
-          : `Started ${managedAgent.name}.`,
-      );
-    } catch (error) {
-      toast.error(
-        error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Agent action failed.",
-      );
-    }
-  }, [
-    channelsQuery.data,
-    managedAgent,
-    relayAgentsQuery.data,
-    startAgentMutation.mutateAsync,
-    stopAgentMutation.mutateAsync,
-  ]);
+  const { handleAgentPrimaryAction, handleAgentRestart } =
+    useAgentLifecycleActions({
+      channels: channelsQuery.data,
+      managedAgent,
+      relayAgents: relayAgentsQuery.data,
+      startManagedAgent: startAgentMutation.mutateAsync,
+      stopManagedAgent: stopAgentMutation.mutateAsync,
+    });
 
   const handleInstantiateAgent = React.useCallback(async () => {
     if (!resolvedPersona) return;
@@ -828,6 +796,7 @@ export function UserProfilePanel({
           followMutation={followMutation}
           agentInstruction={agentInstruction}
           handleAgentPrimaryAction={handleAgentPrimaryAction}
+          handleAgentRestart={handleAgentRestart}
           handleEditAgent={handleEditAgent}
           handleEditPersona={canEditPersona ? handleEditPersona : undefined}
           handleInstantiateAgent={handleInstantiateAgent}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanelSections.tsx b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanelSections.tsx
index 2a46dcc7a5..4514b62d95 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanelSections.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanelSections.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   MessageSquare,
   Pencil,
   Play,
+  RefreshCw,
   Square,
   UserMinus,
   UserPlus,
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ export type ProfileSummaryViewProps = {
   canInstantiateAgent: boolean;
   agentInstruction: string | null;
   handleAgentPrimaryAction: () => void;
+  handleAgentRestart: () => void;
   handleEditAgent: () => void;
   handleEditPersona?: () => void;
   handleInstantiateAgent: () => void;
@@ -189,6 +191,7 @@ export function ProfileSummaryView({
   canInstantiateAgent,
   agentInstruction,
   handleAgentPrimaryAction,
+  handleAgentRestart,
   handleEditAgent,
   handleEditPersona,
   handleInstantiateAgent,
@@ -369,6 +372,14 @@ export function ProfileSummaryView({
               ? handleAgentPrimaryAction
               : undefined
           }
+          onAgentRestart={
+            isOwner === true &&
+            managedAgent?.backend.type === "local" &&
+            (managedAgent.status === "running" ||
+              managedAgent.status === "deployed")
+              ? handleAgentRestart
+              : undefined
+          }
           isFollowing={isFollowing}
           messagePending={isMessagePending}
           onMessage={onOpenDm ? handleMessage : undefined}
@@ -629,6 +640,7 @@ function ProfilePrimaryActions({
   isFollowing,
   messagePending,
   onAgentPrimaryAction,
+  onAgentRestart,
   onEditAgent,
   onMessage,
   pubkey,
@@ -642,6 +654,7 @@ function ProfilePrimaryActions({
   isFollowing: boolean;
   messagePending?: boolean;
   onAgentPrimaryAction?: () => void;
+  onAgentRestart?: () => void;
   onEditAgent: () => void;
   onMessage?: () => void;
   pubkey: string;
@@ -698,6 +711,15 @@ function ProfilePrimaryActions({
           testId="user-profile-agent-primary-action"
         />
       ) : null}
+      {onAgentRestart ? (
+        <ProfileQuickAction
+          disabled={agentActionDisabled}
+          icon={RefreshCw}
+          label="Restart"
+          onClick={onAgentRestart}
+          testId="user-profile-agent-restart"
+        />
+      ) : null}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/useAgentLifecycleActions.ts b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/useAgentLifecycleActions.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f84e149c11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/useAgentLifecycleActions.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import * as React from "react";
+import { toast } from "sonner";
+
+import {
+  isManagedAgentActive,
+  respawnManagedAgentWithRules,
+  startManagedAgentWithRules,
+  stopManagedAgentWithRules,
+} from "@/features/agents/lib/managedAgentControlActions";
+import type { Channel, ManagedAgent, RelayAgent } from "@/shared/api/types";
+
+export function useAgentLifecycleActions({
+  channels,
+  managedAgent,
+  relayAgents,
+  startManagedAgent,
+  stopManagedAgent,
+}: {
+  channels: readonly Channel[] | undefined;
+  managedAgent: ManagedAgent | undefined;
+  relayAgents: readonly RelayAgent[] | undefined;
+  startManagedAgent: (pubkey: string) => Promise<unknown>;
+  stopManagedAgent: (pubkey: string) => Promise<unknown>;
+}) {
+  const handleAgentPrimaryAction = React.useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!managedAgent) return;
+
+    try {
+      if (isManagedAgentActive(managedAgent)) {
+        const result = await stopManagedAgentWithRules({
+          agent: managedAgent,
+          channels: channels ?? [],
+          relayAgents: relayAgents ?? [],
+          stopManagedAgent,
+        });
+        toast.success(result.noticeMessage ?? `Stopped ${managedAgent.name}.`);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      await startManagedAgentWithRules({
+        agent: managedAgent,
+        startManagedAgent,
+      });
+      toast.success(
+        managedAgent.backend.type === "provider"
+          ? `Deploying ${managedAgent.name}.`
+          : `Started ${managedAgent.name}.`,
+      );
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast.error(
+        error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Agent action failed.",
+      );
+    }
+  }, [
+    channels,
+    managedAgent,
+    relayAgents,
+    startManagedAgent,
+    stopManagedAgent,
+  ]);
+
+  const handleAgentRestart = React.useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!managedAgent) return;
+
+    try {
+      await respawnManagedAgentWithRules({
+        agent: managedAgent,
+        startManagedAgent,
+        stopManagedAgent,
+      });
+      toast.success(`Restarted ${managedAgent.name}.`);
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast.error(
+        error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Agent restart failed.",
+      );
+    }
+  }, [managedAgent, startManagedAgent, stopManagedAgent]);
+
+  return { handleAgentPrimaryAction, handleAgentRestart };
+}