diff --git a/internal/localapi/stalelock.go b/internal/localapi/stalelock.go
index ff5b597..1006a2f 100644
--- a/internal/localapi/stalelock.go
+++ b/internal/localapi/stalelock.go
@@ -224,7 +224,10 @@ func (c *staleLockController) Start(ctx context.Context, vmid int) error {
 	if upid == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
-	_, err = c.px.WaitTask(ctx, upid, proxmox.WaitOptions{})
+	// AllowWarnings: an unprivileged LXC start emits a "WARNINGS: 1" advisory (the systemd-nesting
+	// notice) even when the guest boots fine — same as the restore-test's start step (task.go). Without
+	// this the recovery false-logs a start error for a guest that is actually up (seen live on 9999).
+	_, err = c.px.WaitTask(ctx, upid, proxmox.WaitOptions{AllowWarnings: true})
 	return err
 }