diff --git a/src/discord-bridge.ts b/src/discord-bridge.ts
index 7118a698..e43d0525 100644
--- a/src/discord-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/discord-bridge.ts
@@ -769,8 +769,9 @@ export class DiscordBridge {
     }
     activeStartupHint = this.cfg.enabled && this.cfg.token && this.cfg.startupHint ? DISCORD_STARTUP_HINT : undefined;
     // A save that changed neither the switch nor the token keeps the gateway session, so it can resume.
+    // A gateway that gave up (a fatal close, such as a missing intent) is replaced, or a fix could never take.
     const want = this.cfg.enabled && this.cfg.token && !this.held ? this.cfg.token : '';
-    if (this.gateway && want && want === this.gatewayToken) return;
+    if (this.gateway && this.gateway.state !== 'error' && want && want === this.gatewayToken) return;
     this.gateway?.stop();
     this.gateway = null;
     this.gatewayToken = want;
diff --git a/test/discord-bridge.test.ts b/test/discord-bridge.test.ts
index 222eb9b6..9f69fa70 100644
--- a/test/discord-bridge.test.ts
+++ b/test/discord-bridge.test.ts
@@ -586,6 +586,30 @@ describe('DiscordBridge', () => {
     b.stop();
   });
 
+  it('replaces a gateway that gave up on a fatal close when the same config is saved again', async () => {
+    const sockets: FakeSocket[] = [];
+    const b = new DiscordBridge({
+      configDir: dir,
+      fetchImpl: async () => jsonRes({ id: 'msg' }),
+      sendInput,
+      socketFactory: () => {
+        const s = new FakeSocket();
+        sockets.push(s);
+        return s;
+      },
+      now: () => t,
+      sleep: async () => undefined,
+    });
+    await b.reload();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(sockets).toHaveLength(1));
+    sockets[0].drop(4014); // Message Content Intent off: fatal, no reconnect
+    expect(b.gatewayState).toBe('error');
+    await b.reload();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(sockets).toHaveLength(2));
+    expect(b.gatewayState).not.toBe('error');
+    b.stop();
+  });
+
   it('keeps the gateway session across a save that changes neither the switch nor the token', async () => {
     const b = bridge();
     await b.reload();