diff --git a/.changeset/reload-dashboard-on-add-project.md b/.changeset/reload-dashboard-on-add-project.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b947fdde9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/reload-dashboard-on-add-project.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@aoagents/ao-cli": patch
+---
+
+Fix dashboard 404 after adding a project from the "AO is already running" menu. The CLI now notifies the running daemon to reload its cached config so the new project's page is reachable immediately.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
index bd4a36545..f76ee508e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
@@ -1411,6 +1411,14 @@ export function registerStart(program: Command): void {
                     `\n✓ Added "${addedId}" — open the dashboard to start an orchestrator.\n`,
                   ),
                 );
+                const notifyResult = await attachToDaemon(running).notifyProjectChange();
+                if (!notifyResult.ok) {
+                  console.log(
+                    chalk.yellow(
+                      `  ⚠ ${notifyResult.reason}. Refresh the page if the project doesn't show up.`,
+                    ),
+                  );
+                }
                 openUrl(`http://localhost:${running.port}`);
                 unlockStartup();
                 process.exit(0);