diff --git a/src/commands/open.ts b/src/commands/open.ts
index a7e9ab3..408007b 100644
--- a/src/commands/open.ts
+++ b/src/commands/open.ts
@@ -21,10 +21,7 @@ export async function action(
 
   if (opts.print) {
     spin.text = "Running prompt…"
-    let result = await vm.claude(session.worktree, { prompt, print: opts.print, continue: true })
-    if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
-      result = await vm.claude(session.worktree, { prompt, print: opts.print })
-    }
+    const result = await vm.claude(session.worktree, { prompt, print: opts.print, continue: true })
     if (result.output) {
       spin.stop()
       process.stdout.write(renderMarkdown(result.output) + "\n")
@@ -33,10 +30,7 @@ export async function action(
     }
   } else {
     spin.succeed("Session ready")
-    const result = await vm.claude(session.worktree, { prompt, print: opts.print, continue: true })
-    if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
-      await vm.claude(session.worktree, { prompt, print: opts.print })
-    }
+    await vm.claude(session.worktree, { prompt, print: opts.print, continue: true })
   }
 
   if (opts.save !== false) await saveChanges(session.worktree, branch)
diff --git a/src/vm.ts b/src/vm.ts
index ab383a1..c453999 100644
--- a/src/vm.ts
+++ b/src/vm.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { $ } from "bun"
 import { homedir } from "os"
 import { dirname, join } from "path"
 import { getApiKey } from "./env.ts"
+import { info } from "./fmt.ts"
 
 const CONTAINER_NAME = "sandlot"
 const USER = "ubuntu"
@@ -261,11 +262,19 @@ export async function claude(workdir: string, opts?: { prompt?: string; print?:
     const proc = Bun.spawn(args, { stdin: "inherit", stdout: "pipe", stderr: "inherit" })
     const output = await new Response(proc.stdout).text()
     const exitCode = await proc.exited
+    if (exitCode !== 0 && opts?.continue) {
+      info("Retrying without --continue")
+      return claude(workdir, { ...opts, continue: false })
+    }
     return { exitCode, output }
   }
 
   const proc = Bun.spawn(args, { stdin: "inherit", stdout: "inherit", stderr: "inherit" })
   const exitCode = await proc.exited
+  if (exitCode !== 0 && opts?.continue) {
+    info("Retrying without --continue")
+    return claude(workdir, { ...opts, continue: false })
+  }
   return { exitCode }
 }