diff --git a/src/commands/bar/bar-server-probe.ts b/src/commands/bar/bar-server-probe.ts
index 496521e6..a400fe1f 100644
--- a/src/commands/bar/bar-server-probe.ts
+++ b/src/commands/bar/bar-server-probe.ts
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@ export interface DashboardInfo {
 }
 
 /**
- * Read the port recorded in an existing bar.json.
- * Returns null when the file is absent or malformed.
+ * Read the port recorded in an existing bar.json, falling back to the --port
+ * in launch.json's args. `ccs bar stop` deletes bar.json but leaves
+ * launch.json, so the fallback is what keeps the sticky port (and the probe's
+ * ability to find a server on a non-default port) across a stop/start cycle.
+ * Returns null when neither file records a port.
  */
 
 export function resolveBarPort(ccsDir: string): number | null {
@@ -35,10 +38,25 @@ export function resolveBarPort(ccsDir: string): number | null {
   try {
     const raw = fs.readFileSync(barJsonPath, 'utf8');
     const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as Partial<{ port: number }>;
-    return typeof parsed.port === 'number' ? parsed.port : null;
+    if (typeof parsed.port === 'number') return parsed.port;
   } catch {
-    return null;
+    /* fall through to launch.json */
   }
+
+  const launchJsonPath = path.join(ccsDir, 'bar', 'launch.json');
+  try {
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync(launchJsonPath, 'utf8');
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as Partial<{ args: unknown[] }>;
+    const args = Array.isArray(parsed.args) ? parsed.args : [];
+    const idx = args.indexOf('--port');
+    if (idx !== -1 && idx + 1 < args.length) {
+      const n = parseInt(String(args[idx + 1]), 10);
+      if (Number.isFinite(n) && n > 0 && n < 65536) return n;
+    }
+  } catch {
+    /* absent or malformed -> null */
+  }
+  return null;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/bar-command.test.ts b/tests/unit/commands/bar-command.test.ts
index 1c53e072..5d12cab0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/bar-command.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/bar-command.test.ts
@@ -3814,3 +3814,63 @@ describe('launch: --port selects the server port', () => {
     expect(seen.spawnPort).toBe(3777);
   });
 });
+
+describe('resolveBarPort: launch.json fallback survives `ccs bar stop`', () => {
+  // `ccs bar stop` deletes bar.json, so bar.json alone cannot carry the sticky
+  // port across a stop/start cycle. launch.json (refreshed by launch, NOT
+  // deleted by stop) records the port in its args and acts as the fallback.
+  it('falls back to the --port recorded in launch.json when bar.json is absent', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'bar'), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'bar', 'launch.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schema: 1,
+        runtime: '/usr/bin/node',
+        args: ['/x/ccs.js', 'bar', 'serve', '--port', '3456'],
+        home: tempHome,
+      })
+    );
+
+    const { resolveBarPort } = await loadLaunchSubcommand();
+    expect(resolveBarPort(ccsDir)).toBe(3456);
+  });
+
+  it('bar.json port wins over launch.json when both exist', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'bar'), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'bar.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ baseUrl: 'http://127.0.0.1:4000', port: 4000, authMode: 'loopback' })
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'bar', 'launch.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schema: 1,
+        runtime: '/usr/bin/node',
+        args: ['/x/ccs.js', 'bar', 'serve', '--port', '3456'],
+        home: tempHome,
+      })
+    );
+
+    const { resolveBarPort } = await loadLaunchSubcommand();
+    expect(resolveBarPort(ccsDir)).toBe(4000);
+  });
+
+  it('returns null when launch.json has no --port and bar.json is absent', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'bar'), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'bar', 'launch.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schema: 1,
+        runtime: '/usr/bin/node',
+        args: ['/x/ccs.js', 'bar', 'serve'],
+        home: tempHome,
+      })
+    );
+
+    const { resolveBarPort } = await loadLaunchSubcommand();
+    expect(resolveBarPort(ccsDir)).toBeNull();
+  });
+});