diff --git a/lisp/+chicken.el b/lisp/+chicken.el
index ef5f616..55fc48e 100644
--- a/lisp/+chicken.el
+++ b/lisp/+chicken.el
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@
   (save-buffer)
   (condition-case e
       (url-retrieve-synchronously "http://localhost:8080/reload")
-    (file-error (message "Couldn't ping awful's server.  Is it running?"))
+    (file-error (progn
+                  (message "Couldn't ping awful's server.  Starting...")
+                  (start-process "awful" (generate-new-buffer "*awful*")
+                                 "awful" "--development-mode" (buffer-file-name))))
     (t (message "Some awful error occurred!"))))
 
 (provide '+chicken)