diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/config.go b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/config.go
index e4ccefd8..5b6b48cc 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/config.go
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/config.go
@@ -213,12 +213,12 @@ func toSnapshotCreateParams(snapshotDir string) snapshotCreateParams {
 	}
 }
 
-func toSnapshotLoadParams(snapshotDir string, networkOverrides []networkOverride) snapshotLoadParams {
+func toSnapshotLoadParams(snapshotDir string, networkOverrides []networkOverride, resumeVM bool) snapshotLoadParams {
 	return snapshotLoadParams{
 		MemFilePath:         snapshotMemoryPath(snapshotDir),
 		SnapshotPath:        snapshotStatePath(snapshotDir),
 		EnableDiffSnapshots: true,
-		ResumeVM:            false,
+		ResumeVM:            resumeVM,
 		NetworkOverrides:    networkOverrides,
 	}
 }
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/config_test.go b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/config_test.go
index 6e912ee7..66adf83e 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/config_test.go
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/config_test.go
@@ -82,11 +82,11 @@ func TestSnapshotParamPaths(t *testing.T) {
 
 	load := toSnapshotLoadParams("/tmp/snapshot-latest", []networkOverride{
 		{IfaceID: "eth0", HostDevName: "hype-abc123"},
-	})
+	}, true)
 	assert.Equal(t, "/tmp/snapshot-latest/state", load.SnapshotPath)
 	assert.Equal(t, "/tmp/snapshot-latest/memory", load.MemFilePath)
 	assert.True(t, load.EnableDiffSnapshots)
-	assert.False(t, load.ResumeVM)
+	assert.True(t, load.ResumeVM)
 	require.Len(t, load.NetworkOverrides, 1)
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/firecracker.go b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/firecracker.go
index e22e42f3..ff5c44d6 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/firecracker.go
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/firecracker.go
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ type apiError struct {
 
 // Firecracker implements hypervisor.Hypervisor for the Firecracker VMM.
 type Firecracker struct {
-	socketPath string
-	client     *http.Client
+	socketPath      string
+	client          *http.Client
+	restoredResumed bool
 }
 
 func New(socketPath string) (*Firecracker, error) {
@@ -50,6 +51,10 @@ func New(socketPath string) (*Firecracker, error) {
 
 var _ hypervisor.Hypervisor = (*Firecracker)(nil)
 
+func (f *Firecracker) RestoredResumed() bool {
+	return f != nil && f.restoredResumed
+}
+
 func (f *Firecracker) Capabilities() hypervisor.Capabilities {
 	return capabilities()
 }
@@ -223,8 +228,8 @@ func (f *Firecracker) instanceStart(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return f.postAction(ctx, "InstanceStart")
 }
 
-func (f *Firecracker) loadSnapshot(ctx context.Context, snapshotDir string, networkOverrides []networkOverride) error {
-	params := toSnapshotLoadParams(snapshotDir, networkOverrides)
+func (f *Firecracker) loadSnapshot(ctx context.Context, snapshotDir string, networkOverrides []networkOverride, resumeVM bool) error {
+	params := toSnapshotLoadParams(snapshotDir, networkOverrides, resumeVM)
 	if _, err := f.do(ctx, http.MethodPut, "/snapshot/load", params, http.StatusNoContent); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/process.go b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/process.go
index b29539e9..5044fa2b 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/process.go
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/process.go
@@ -18,9 +18,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	socketWaitTimeout = 10 * time.Second
-	socketPollEvery   = 50 * time.Millisecond
-	socketDialTimeout = 100 * time.Millisecond
+	socketWaitTimeout          = 10 * time.Second
+	socketReadyRetryEvery      = 1 * time.Millisecond
+	socketDialTimeout          = 100 * time.Millisecond
+	restoreResumeOnLoadEnv     = "HYPEMAN_FIRECRACKER_RESTORE_RESUME_ON_LOAD"
+	restoreDeepTraceEnvForLoad = "HYPEMAN_RESTORE_DEEP_TRACE"
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -115,16 +117,18 @@ func (s *Starter) RestoreVM(ctx context.Context, p *paths.Paths, version string,
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, nil, fmt.Errorf("load firecracker restore metadata: %w", err)
 	}
+	resumeOnLoad := shouldResumeOnSnapshotLoad()
 	err = func() error {
 		snapshotSourceAliasMu.Lock()
 		defer snapshotSourceAliasMu.Unlock()
 		return withSnapshotSourceDirAlias(meta, filepath.Dir(socketPath), func() error {
-			return hv.loadSnapshot(ctx, snapshotPath, meta.NetworkOverrides)
+			return hv.loadSnapshot(ctx, snapshotPath, meta.NetworkOverrides, resumeOnLoad)
 		})
 	}()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, nil, fmt.Errorf("load firecracker snapshot: %w", err)
 	}
+	hv.restoredResumed = resumeOnLoad
 	if meta.SnapshotSourceDataDir != "" && !meta.RetainSnapshotSourceDataDirAlias {
 		meta.SnapshotSourceDataDir = ""
 		if err := saveRestoreMetadataState(filepath.Dir(socketPath), meta); err != nil {
@@ -244,23 +248,47 @@ func (s *Starter) startProcess(_ context.Context, p *paths.Paths, version string
 }
 
 func isSocketInUse(socketPath string) bool {
-	conn, err := net.DialTimeout("unix", socketPath, socketDialTimeout)
-	if err != nil {
+	return tryDialUnixSocket(socketPath) == nil
+}
+
+func shouldResumeOnSnapshotLoad() bool {
+	if envBoolDisabled(os.Getenv(restoreResumeOnLoadEnv)) {
+		return false
+	}
+	// Deep restore tracing is anchored after RestoreVM returns with a PID. Keep
+	// the explicit host Resume call in that mode so the trace still captures the
+	// first resumed guest execution window.
+	if strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(restoreDeepTraceEnvForLoad)) == "1" {
 		return false
 	}
-	_ = conn.Close()
 	return true
 }
 
-func waitForSocket(path string, timeout time.Duration) error {
+func envBoolDisabled(value string) bool {
+	switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(value)) {
+	case "0", "false", "no", "off":
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
+func tryDialUnixSocket(path string) error {
+	conn, err := net.DialTimeout("unix", path, socketDialTimeout)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	_ = conn.Close()
+	return nil
+}
+
+func waitForSocketByPolling(path string, timeout time.Duration) error {
 	deadline := time.Now().Add(timeout)
 	for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
-		conn, err := net.DialTimeout("unix", path, socketDialTimeout)
-		if err == nil {
-			_ = conn.Close()
+		if err := tryDialUnixSocket(path); err == nil {
 			return nil
 		}
-		time.Sleep(socketPollEvery)
+		time.Sleep(socketReadyRetryEvery)
 	}
 	return fmt.Errorf("timeout waiting for socket")
 }
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/process_test.go b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/process_test.go
index df99180e..44a6b4d0 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/process_test.go
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/process_test.go
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ package firecracker
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"net"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -78,3 +80,43 @@ func TestWithSnapshotSourceDirAlias_RejectsNestedPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "must not be nested")
 }
+
+func TestShouldResumeOnSnapshotLoad(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv(restoreResumeOnLoadEnv, "")
+	t.Setenv(restoreDeepTraceEnvForLoad, "")
+	assert.True(t, shouldResumeOnSnapshotLoad())
+
+	t.Setenv(restoreResumeOnLoadEnv, "0")
+	assert.False(t, shouldResumeOnSnapshotLoad())
+
+	t.Setenv(restoreResumeOnLoadEnv, "")
+	t.Setenv(restoreDeepTraceEnvForLoad, "1")
+	assert.False(t, shouldResumeOnSnapshotLoad())
+}
+
+func TestWaitForSocketReturnsWhenSocketAppears(t *testing.T) {
+	tmp, err := os.MkdirTemp("/tmp", "fcwait-")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.RemoveAll(tmp) })
+	socketPath := filepath.Join(tmp, "fc.sock")
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	errCh := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		defer close(done)
+		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+		listener, err := net.Listen("unix", socketPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			errCh <- err
+			return
+		}
+		errCh <- nil
+		defer listener.Close()
+		<-time.After(50 * time.Millisecond)
+	}()
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	require.NoError(t, waitForSocket(socketPath, time.Second))
+	assert.Less(t, time.Since(start), 250*time.Millisecond)
+	require.NoError(t, <-errCh)
+	<-done
+}
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/socket_wait_linux.go b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/socket_wait_linux.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8f5dcb47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/socket_wait_linux.go
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package firecracker
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+)
+
+func waitForSocket(path string, timeout time.Duration) error {
+	if err := tryDialUnixSocket(path); err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	parent := filepath.Dir(path)
+	fd, err := unix.InotifyInit1(unix.IN_CLOEXEC | unix.IN_NONBLOCK)
+	if err != nil {
+		return waitForSocketByPolling(path, timeout)
+	}
+	defer unix.Close(fd)
+
+	wd, err := unix.InotifyAddWatch(fd, parent, unix.IN_CREATE|unix.IN_MOVED_TO|unix.IN_ATTRIB)
+	if err != nil {
+		return waitForSocketByPolling(path, timeout)
+	}
+	defer unix.InotifyRmWatch(fd, uint32(wd))
+
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(timeout)
+	buf := make([]byte, 4096)
+	for {
+		if err := tryDialUnixSocket(path); err == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		remaining := time.Until(deadline)
+		if remaining <= 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("timeout waiting for socket")
+		}
+
+		pollTimeout := remaining
+		if socketPathExists(path) {
+			pollTimeout = minDuration(pollTimeout, socketReadyRetryEvery)
+		}
+		events := []unix.PollFd{{Fd: int32(fd), Events: unix.POLLIN}}
+		n, err := unix.Poll(events, durationMillisCeil(pollTimeout))
+		if err != nil {
+			if err == unix.EINTR {
+				continue
+			}
+			return waitForSocketByPolling(path, remaining)
+		}
+		if n > 0 {
+			for {
+				n, err := unix.Read(fd, buf)
+				if err != nil {
+					if err == unix.EAGAIN || err == unix.EWOULDBLOCK {
+						break
+					}
+					return waitForSocketByPolling(path, time.Until(deadline))
+				}
+				if n == 0 {
+					break
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func socketPathExists(path string) bool {
+	_, err := os.Lstat(path)
+	return err == nil
+}
+
+func durationMillisCeil(d time.Duration) int {
+	if d <= 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	ms := d / time.Millisecond
+	if d%time.Millisecond != 0 {
+		ms++
+	}
+	if int64(ms) > int64(^uint(0)>>1) {
+		return int(^uint(0) >> 1)
+	}
+	return int(ms)
+}
+
+func minDuration(a, b time.Duration) time.Duration {
+	if a < b {
+		return a
+	}
+	return b
+}
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/socket_wait_other.go b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/socket_wait_other.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1de4be29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/firecracker/socket_wait_other.go
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+//go:build !linux
+
+package firecracker
+
+import "time"
+
+func waitForSocket(path string, timeout time.Duration) error {
+	return waitForSocketByPolling(path, timeout)
+}
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/hypervisor.go b/lib/hypervisor/hypervisor.go
index 7331f471..0e44aaf9 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/hypervisor.go
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/hypervisor.go
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ type VMStarter interface {
 	// Each hypervisor implements its own restore flow:
 	// - Cloud Hypervisor: starts process, calls Restore API
 	// - QEMU: would start with -incoming or -loadvm flags (not yet implemented)
-	// Returns the process ID and a Hypervisor client. The VM is in paused state after restore.
+	// Returns the process ID and a Hypervisor client. The VM is usually paused
+	// after restore, unless the returned client reports RestoredResumed.
 	RestoreVM(ctx context.Context, p *paths.Paths, version string, socketPath string, snapshotPath string) (pid int, hv Hypervisor, err error)
 
 	// PrepareFork allows hypervisors to prepare forked instance state.
@@ -202,6 +203,16 @@ type Hypervisor interface {
 	Capabilities() Capabilities
 }
 
+type restoredResumedHypervisor interface {
+	RestoredResumed() bool
+}
+
+// RestoredResumed reports whether RestoreVM already resumed guest execution.
+func RestoredResumed(hv Hypervisor) bool {
+	resumed, ok := hv.(restoredResumedHypervisor)
+	return ok && resumed.RestoredResumed()
+}
+
 // Capabilities indicates which optional features a hypervisor supports.
 // Callers should check these before calling optional methods.
 type Capabilities struct {
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/tracing.go b/lib/hypervisor/tracing.go
index 79888302..96805240 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/tracing.go
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/tracing.go
@@ -172,6 +172,10 @@ func (h *tracingHypervisor) Capabilities() Capabilities {
 	return h.next.Capabilities()
 }
 
+func (h *tracingHypervisor) RestoredResumed() bool {
+	return RestoredResumed(h.next)
+}
+
 func (h *tracingHypervisor) spanAttrs(attrs ...attribute.KeyValue) []attribute.KeyValue {
 	out := make([]attribute.KeyValue, 0, len(h.attrs)+len(attrs))
 	out = append(out, h.attrs...)
diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/tracing_test.go b/lib/hypervisor/tracing_test.go
index 8d5147c6..55a96892 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/tracing_test.go
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/tracing_test.go
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ import (
 
 type fakeHypervisor struct{}
 type fakeHypervisorGetVMInfoError struct{}
+type fakeRestoredResumedHypervisor struct {
+	fakeHypervisor
+}
 
 func (fakeHypervisor) DeleteVM(context.Context) error { return nil }
 func (fakeHypervisor) Shutdown(context.Context) error { return nil }
@@ -36,6 +39,7 @@ func (fakeHypervisor) GetTargetGuestMemoryBytes(context.Context) (int64, error)
 	return 0, nil
 }
 func (fakeHypervisor) Capabilities() Capabilities                   { return Capabilities{} }
+func (fakeRestoredResumedHypervisor) RestoredResumed() bool         { return true }
 func (fakeHypervisorGetVMInfoError) DeleteVM(context.Context) error { return nil }
 func (fakeHypervisorGetVMInfoError) Shutdown(context.Context) error { return nil }
 func (fakeHypervisorGetVMInfoError) GetVMInfo(context.Context) (*VMInfo, error) {
@@ -123,6 +127,11 @@ func TestWrapVMStarterWrapsReturnedHypervisor(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, string(TypeCloudHypervisor), attrs["hypervisor"])
 }
 
+func TestWrapHypervisorPreservesRestoredResumed(t *testing.T) {
+	hv := WrapHypervisor(TypeFirecracker, fakeRestoredResumedHypervisor{})
+	require.True(t, RestoredResumed(hv))
+}
+
 func TestWrapHypervisorSkipsGetVMInfoTraceByDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	recorder, _ := newTestTracerProvider(t)
 
diff --git a/lib/instances/restore.go b/lib/instances/restore.go
index 17e4726d..d169242a 100644
--- a/lib/instances/restore.go
+++ b/lib/instances/restore.go
@@ -309,10 +309,16 @@ func (m *manager) restoreInstance(
 	)
 	log.InfoContext(ctx, "resuming VM", "instance_id", id)
 	if deepTrace != nil {
-		deepTrace.Mark("resume_call_start", "")
-		deepTrace.Sample("resume_call_start")
+		stage := "resume_call_start"
+		if hypervisor.RestoredResumed(hv) {
+			stage = "resume_already_done"
+		}
+		deepTrace.Mark(stage, "")
+		deepTrace.Sample(stage)
 	}
-	if err := hv.Resume(resumeCtx); err != nil {
+	if hypervisor.RestoredResumed(hv) {
+		log.InfoContext(ctx, "VM was resumed during snapshot load", "instance_id", id)
+	} else if err := hv.Resume(resumeCtx); err != nil {
 		if deepTrace != nil {
 			deepTrace.Mark("resume_error", err.Error())
 			deepTrace.Sample("resume_error")