diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 9c66bcf..a923aeb 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -192,6 +192,12 @@ class PedalApp:
                     self.presets.select(0, 0)
                 except Exception:
                     logger.info("No presets exist yet — pedal ready for MIDI/footswitch input")
+            else:
+                # restore_state() loads from disk but doesn't activate the pipeline
+                # Need to call select() to trigger pipeline.load_preset() and load NAM
+                logger.info("State restored — activating preset '%s' (bank=%d, program=%d)",
+                            restored.name, restored.bank, restored.program)
+                self.presets.select(restored.bank, restored.program)
 
             # ── 4. MIDI handler ──────────────────────────────────
             self.midi = MIDIHandler()