diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index bf493846b..029d3be06 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -4167,7 +4167,16 @@ class GatewayRunner:
             logger.debug("Failed to write restart notify file: %s", e)
 
         active_agents = self._running_agent_count()
-        self.request_restart(detached=True, via_service=False)
+        # When running under a service manager (systemd/launchd), use the
+        # service restart path: exit with code 75 so the service manager
+        # restarts us.  The detached subprocess approach (setsid + bash)
+        # doesn't work under systemd because KillMode=mixed kills all
+        # processes in the cgroup, including the detached helper.
+        _under_service = bool(os.environ.get("INVOCATION_ID"))  # systemd sets this
+        if _under_service:
+            self.request_restart(detached=False, via_service=True)
+        else:
+            self.request_restart(detached=True, via_service=False)
         if active_agents:
             return f"⏳ Draining {active_agents} active agent(s) before restart..."
         return "♻ Restarting gateway..."
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_restart_notification.py b/tests/gateway/test_restart_notification.py
index ac7a89f27..c92659649 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_restart_notification.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_restart_notification.py
@@ -47,6 +47,48 @@ async def test_restart_command_writes_notify_file(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     assert "thread_id" not in data  # no thread → omitted
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_restart_command_uses_service_restart_under_systemd(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Under systemd (INVOCATION_ID set), /restart uses via_service=True."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_run, "_hermes_home", tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("INVOCATION_ID", "abc123")
+
+    runner, _adapter = make_restart_runner()
+    runner.request_restart = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+
+    source = make_restart_source(chat_id="42")
+    event = MessageEvent(
+        text="/restart",
+        message_type=MessageType.TEXT,
+        source=source,
+        message_id="m1",
+    )
+
+    await runner._handle_restart_command(event)
+    runner.request_restart.assert_called_once_with(detached=False, via_service=True)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_restart_command_uses_detached_without_systemd(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Without systemd, /restart uses the detached subprocess approach."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_run, "_hermes_home", tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.delenv("INVOCATION_ID", raising=False)
+
+    runner, _adapter = make_restart_runner()
+    runner.request_restart = MagicMock(return_value=True)
+
+    source = make_restart_source(chat_id="42")
+    event = MessageEvent(
+        text="/restart",
+        message_type=MessageType.TEXT,
+        source=source,
+        message_id="m1",
+    )
+
+    await runner._handle_restart_command(event)
+    runner.request_restart.assert_called_once_with(detached=True, via_service=False)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_restart_command_preserves_thread_id(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     """Thread ID is saved when the requester is in a threaded chat."""