diff --git a/api/main.py b/api/main.py
index a22405f..f518325 100644
--- a/api/main.py
+++ b/api/main.py
@@ -113,10 +113,14 @@ async def get_conversation_history():
                 status_code=404, detail="Workflow worker unavailable or not found."
             )
 
-        # For other Temporal errors, return a 500
-        raise HTTPException(
-            status_code=500, detail="Internal server error while querying workflow."
-        )
+        if "workflow not found" in error_message:
+            await start_workflow()
+            return []
+        else:
+            # For other Temporal errors, return a 500
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=500, detail="Internal server error while querying workflow."
+            )
     
 @app.get("/agent-goal")
 async def get_agent_goal():
diff --git a/todo.md b/todo.md
index a63530a..a1ee04c 100644
--- a/todo.md
+++ b/todo.md
@@ -34,3 +34,5 @@
 
 [ ] non-retry the api key error - "Invalid API Key provided: sk_test_**J..." and "AuthenticationError"
 [ ] make it so you can yeet yourself out of a goal and pick a new one
+
+[ ] add visual feedback when workflow starting
\ No newline at end of file