diff --git a/hermes_cli/setup.py b/hermes_cli/setup.py
index 26a0f3c37..2291758f7 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/setup.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/setup.py
@@ -2922,19 +2922,33 @@ def run_setup_wizard(args):
     _offer_launch_chat()
 
 
+def _resolve_hermes_chat_argv() -> Optional[list[str]]:
+    """Resolve argv for launching ``hermes chat`` in a fresh process."""
+    hermes_bin = shutil.which("hermes")
+    if hermes_bin:
+        return [hermes_bin, "chat"]
+
+    try:
+        if importlib.util.find_spec("hermes_cli") is not None:
+            return [sys.executable, "-m", "hermes_cli.main", "chat"]
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
+    return None
+
+
 def _offer_launch_chat():
     """Prompt the user to jump straight into chat after setup."""
     print()
-    if prompt_yes_no("Launch hermes chat now?", True):
-        from hermes_cli.main import cmd_chat
-        from types import SimpleNamespace
-        cmd_chat(SimpleNamespace(
-            query=None, resume=None, continue_last=None, model=None,
-            provider=None, effort=None, skin=None, oneshot=False,
-            quiet=False, verbose=False, toolsets=None, skills=None,
-            yolo=False, source=None, worktree=False, checkpoints=False,
-            pass_session_id=False, max_turns=None,
-        ))
+    if not prompt_yes_no("Launch hermes chat now?", True):
+        return
+
+    chat_argv = _resolve_hermes_chat_argv()
+    if not chat_argv:
+        print_info("Could not relaunch Hermes automatically. Run 'hermes chat' manually.")
+        return
+
+    os.execvp(chat_argv[0], chat_argv)
 
 
 def _run_first_time_quick_setup(config: dict, hermes_home, is_existing: bool):
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup.py
index 0eac69bac..4a3f5151f 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import json
 import sys
 import types
 
+import pytest
+
 from hermes_cli.auth import get_active_provider
 from hermes_cli.config import load_config, save_config
 from hermes_cli.setup import setup_model_provider
@@ -362,3 +364,52 @@ def test_modal_setup_persists_direct_mode_when_user_chooses_their_own_account(tm
 
     assert config["terminal"]["backend"] == "modal"
     assert config["terminal"]["modal_mode"] == "direct"
+
+
+def test_resolve_hermes_chat_argv_prefers_which(monkeypatch):
+    from hermes_cli import setup as setup_mod
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(setup_mod.shutil, "which", lambda name: "/usr/local/bin/hermes" if name == "hermes" else None)
+
+    assert setup_mod._resolve_hermes_chat_argv() == ["/usr/local/bin/hermes", "chat"]
+
+
+def test_resolve_hermes_chat_argv_falls_back_to_module(monkeypatch):
+    from hermes_cli import setup as setup_mod
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(setup_mod.shutil, "which", lambda _name: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(setup_mod.importlib.util, "find_spec", lambda name: object() if name == "hermes_cli" else None)
+
+    assert setup_mod._resolve_hermes_chat_argv() == [sys.executable, "-m", "hermes_cli.main", "chat"]
+
+
+def test_offer_launch_chat_execs_fresh_process(monkeypatch):
+    from hermes_cli import setup as setup_mod
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(setup_mod, "prompt_yes_no", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(setup_mod, "_resolve_hermes_chat_argv", lambda: ["/usr/local/bin/hermes", "chat"])
+
+    exec_calls = []
+
+    def fake_execvp(path, argv):
+        exec_calls.append((path, argv))
+        raise SystemExit(0)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(setup_mod.os, "execvp", fake_execvp)
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+        setup_mod._offer_launch_chat()
+
+    assert exec_calls == [("/usr/local/bin/hermes", ["/usr/local/bin/hermes", "chat"])]
+
+
+def test_offer_launch_chat_manual_fallback_when_unresolvable(monkeypatch, capsys):
+    from hermes_cli import setup as setup_mod
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(setup_mod, "prompt_yes_no", lambda *_args, **_kwargs: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(setup_mod, "_resolve_hermes_chat_argv", lambda: None)
+
+    setup_mod._offer_launch_chat()
+
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert "Run 'hermes chat' manually" in captured.out