diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-test-msi.yaml b/.github/workflows/build-and-test-msi.yaml
index dd8fadc2b..44876a8aa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-test-msi.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-test-msi.yaml
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ jobs:
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Ignore'
           taskkill /f /im wslservice.exe 2> nul || cmd /c "exit /b 0"
           wsl --list --verbose
+          sc query LxssManager | findstr "STATE" | findstr /C:"STOPPED" > nul && net start LxssManager
           wsl --shutdown
           wsl --unregister lima-finch
           wsl --list --verbose
@@ -152,6 +153,7 @@ jobs:
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Ignore'
           taskkill /f /im wslservice.exe 2> nul || cmd /c "exit /b 0"
           wsl --list --verbose
+          sc query LxssManager | findstr "STATE" | findstr /C:"STOPPED" > nul && net start LxssManager
           wsl --shutdown
           wsl --unregister lima-finch
           wsl --list --verbose
@@ -206,6 +208,7 @@ jobs:
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Ignore'
           taskkill /f /im wslservice.exe 2> nul || cmd /c "exit /b 0"
           wsl --list --verbose
+          sc query LxssManager | findstr "STATE" | findstr /C:"STOPPED" > nul && net start LxssManager
           wsl --shutdown
           wsl --unregister lima-finch
           wsl --list --verbose
@@ -252,6 +255,7 @@ jobs:
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Ignore'
           taskkill /f /im wslservice.exe 2> nul || cmd /c "exit /b 0"
           wsl --list --verbose
+          sc query LxssManager | findstr "STATE" | findstr /C:"STOPPED" > nul && net start LxssManager
           wsl --shutdown
           Start-Sleep -s 10
           wsl --unregister lima-finch
@@ -288,6 +292,7 @@ jobs:
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Ignore'
           taskkill /f /im wslservice.exe 2> nul || cmd /c "exit /b 0"
           wsl --list --verbose
+          sc query LxssManager | findstr "STATE" | findstr /C:"STOPPED" > nul && net start LxssManager
           wsl --shutdown
           wsl --unregister lima-finch
           wsl --list --verbose
diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e-windows.yaml b/.github/workflows/e2e-windows.yaml
index 3fd64a88e..46961e448 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e-windows.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e-windows.yaml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ jobs:
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Ignore'
           taskkill /f /im wslservice.exe 2> nul || cmd /c "exit /b 0"
           wsl --list --verbose
+          sc query LxssManager | findstr "STATE" | findstr /C:"STOPPED" > nul && net start LxssManager
           wsl --shutdown
           wsl --unregister lima-finch
           wsl --list --verbose
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ jobs:
           $ErrorActionPreference = 'Ignore'
           taskkill /f /im wslservice.exe 2> nul || cmd /c "exit /b 0"
           wsl --list --verbose
+          sc query LxssManager | findstr "STATE" | findstr /C:"STOPPED" > nul && net start LxssManager
           wsl --shutdown
           wsl --unregister lima-finch
           wsl --list --verbose