diff --git a/scripts/ha/cluster-init.sh b/scripts/ha/cluster-init.sh
index 917b505..71e360b 100755
--- a/scripts/ha/cluster-init.sh
+++ b/scripts/ha/cluster-init.sh
@@ -103,11 +103,16 @@ n2_ssh "mkdir -p /etc/corosync"
 n2_scp "$AUTHKEY" "$AUTHKEY"
 n2_ssh "chmod 0400 '${AUTHKEY}'"
 
-log "Restarting corosync on both nodes..."
+log "Restarting corosync and pacemaker on both nodes..."
 systemctl restart corosync
 n2_ssh "systemctl restart corosync"
 sleep 3
 
+log "Starting pacemaker on both nodes (may have failed at boot before authkey was placed)..."
+systemctl start pacemaker 2>/dev/null || systemctl restart pacemaker 2>/dev/null || true
+n2_ssh "systemctl start pacemaker 2>/dev/null || systemctl restart pacemaker 2>/dev/null || true"
+sleep 2
+
 # ── 1. Corosync quorum ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 log "Waiting for corosync quorum..."
 for i in $(seq 1 30); do