diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 8e862eb..ec9e962 100755
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -602,6 +602,33 @@ program
 
 const vmCmd = program.command("vm").description("Manage the sandlot VM")
 
+vmCmd
+  .command("create")
+  .description("Create and provision the VM")
+  .action(async () => {
+    const spin = spinner("Creating VM")
+    try {
+      await vm.create((msg) => { spin.text = msg })
+      spin.succeed("VM created")
+    } catch (err) {
+      spin.fail(String((err as Error).message ?? err))
+      process.exit(1)
+    }
+  })
+
+vmCmd
+  .command("start")
+  .description("Start the VM")
+  .action(async () => {
+    try {
+      await vm.start()
+      console.log("✔ VM started")
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error(`✖ ${(err as Error).message ?? err}`)
+      process.exit(1)
+    }
+  })
+
 vmCmd
   .command("shell")
   .description("Open a shell in the VM")
diff --git a/src/vm.ts b/src/vm.ts
index 5672e27..6708369 100644
--- a/src/vm.ts
+++ b/src/vm.ts
@@ -25,22 +25,15 @@ function requireContainer(): void {
   }
 }
 
-/** Ensure the sandlot container exists and is running. Creates and provisions on first use. */
-export async function ensure(log?: (msg: string) => void): Promise<void> {
+/** Create and provision the container from scratch. Fails if it already exists. */
+export async function create(log?: (msg: string) => void): Promise<void> {
   requireContainer()
 
-  // Ensure the container daemon is running
-  await $`container system start`.nothrow().quiet()
-
   const s = await status()
-  if (s === "running") return
-
-  if (s === "stopped") {
-    await $`container start ${CONTAINER_NAME}`.quiet()
-    return
+  if (s !== "missing") {
+    throw new Error("Container already exists. Use 'sandlot vm destroy' first to recreate it.")
   }
 
-  // Create from scratch
   const home = homedir()
   log?.("Pulling image & creating container")
   await $`container run -d --name ${CONTAINER_NAME} -m 4G --mount type=bind,source=${home}/dev,target=/host,readonly -v ${home}/.sandlot:/sandlot ubuntu:24.04 sleep infinity`.quiet()
@@ -112,6 +105,33 @@ echo '${claudeJson}' > ~/.claude.json
 `}`.quiet()
 }
 
+/** Start a stopped container. */
+export async function start(): Promise<void> {
+  requireContainer()
+  const s = await status()
+  if (s === "running") return
+  if (s === "missing") throw new Error("Container does not exist. Use 'sandlot vm create' first.")
+  await $`container start ${CONTAINER_NAME}`.quiet()
+}
+
+/** Ensure the sandlot container exists and is running. Creates and provisions on first use. */
+export async function ensure(log?: (msg: string) => void): Promise<void> {
+  requireContainer()
+
+  // Ensure the container daemon is running
+  await $`container system start`.nothrow().quiet()
+
+  const s = await status()
+  if (s === "running") return
+
+  if (s === "stopped") {
+    await start()
+    return
+  }
+
+  await create(log)
+}
+
 /** Check container status. */
 export async function status(): Promise<"running" | "stopped" | "missing"> {
   const result = await $`container list --format json --all`.nothrow().quiet().text()