diff --git a/src/LiveRecorder.Application/Services/RecordService.cs b/src/LiveRecorder.Application/Services/RecordService.cs
index 148a4eb..7c200fd 100644
--- a/src/LiveRecorder.Application/Services/RecordService.cs
+++ b/src/LiveRecorder.Application/Services/RecordService.cs
@@ -126,9 +126,17 @@ public sealed class RecordService
             throw new InvalidOperationException("The live room is disabled. Enable it before starting a recording.");
         }
 
+        await ReconcileActiveSessionsAsync(liveRoom.Id, cancellationToken);
         var activeSession = await _recordSessionRepository.GetActiveByLiveRoomIdAsync(liveRoom.Id, cancellationToken);
         if (activeSession is not null)
         {
+            await _systemLogService.WriteAsync(
+                SystemLogLevel.Warning,
+                "RecordSession",
+                "Recording start skipped because an active session still exists after reconciliation.",
+                liveRoomId: liveRoom.Id,
+                recordSessionId: activeSession.Id,
+                cancellationToken: cancellationToken);
             throw new InvalidOperationException("An active recording session already exists for the live room.");
         }
 
diff --git a/src/LiveRecorder.Infrastructure/Services/LiveRoomPollingBackgroundService.cs b/src/LiveRecorder.Infrastructure/Services/LiveRoomPollingBackgroundService.cs
index c97ef47..bfdaba0 100644
--- a/src/LiveRecorder.Infrastructure/Services/LiveRoomPollingBackgroundService.cs
+++ b/src/LiveRecorder.Infrastructure/Services/LiveRoomPollingBackgroundService.cs
@@ -216,6 +216,12 @@ public sealed class LiveRoomPollingBackgroundService : BackgroundService
 
             if (hasRunningSession)
             {
+                await logService.WriteAsync(
+                    SystemLogLevel.Info,
+                    "Scheduler",
+                    "Auto-start skipped because an active recording session already exists.",
+                    liveRoomId: liveRoom.Id,
+                    cancellationToken: cancellationToken);
                 return;
             }