diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue b/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
index 939f90e..1df7867 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/JoinBoutPage.vue
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const step = ref<string>('login')
 const isHumanMode = ref(false)
 const selectedHumanSeed = ref('baby_fighter_1')
 const error = ref('')
+const activeFightLink = ref('')
 const rateLimitCountdown = ref(0)
 let rateLimitTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
 const isJoining = ref(false)
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ const archetypeList = [
 function handleError(e: unknown, fallback: string) {
   const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : fallback
   error.value = msg
+  activeFightLink.value = ''
   // Parse "Slow down" with retry seconds from the error message or check for countdown pattern
   if (msg.toLowerCase().includes('too many requests') || msg.toLowerCase().includes('slow down')) {
     startRateLimitTimer(msg)
@@ -394,8 +396,13 @@ async function fight() {
       return // Don't reset flag — navigation will unmount component
     } else {
       const data = await res.json()
-      const msg = data.retryAfterSec ? `${data.error} (${data.retryAfterSec}s)` : (data.error || 'Failed to join.')
-      handleError(new Error(msg), 'Failed to join.')
+      if (data.fightId) {
+        activeFightLink.value = data.fightId
+        error.value = 'You\'re already in a fight!'
+      } else {
+        const msg = data.retryAfterSec ? `${data.error} (${data.retryAfterSec}s)` : (data.error || 'Failed to join.')
+        handleError(new Error(msg), 'Failed to join.')
+      }
     }
   } catch {
     error.value = 'Network error.'
@@ -443,8 +450,13 @@ async function practice() {
       return // Don't reset flag — navigation will unmount component
     } else {
       const data = await res.json()
-      const msg = data.retryAfterSec ? `${data.error} (${data.retryAfterSec}s)` : (data.error || 'Failed to start practice fight.')
-      handleError(new Error(msg), 'Practice fight failed.')
+      if (data.fightId) {
+        activeFightLink.value = data.fightId
+        error.value = 'You\'re already in a fight!'
+      } else {
+        const msg = data.retryAfterSec ? `${data.error} (${data.retryAfterSec}s)` : (data.error || 'Failed to start practice fight.')
+        handleError(new Error(msg), 'Practice fight failed.')
+      }
     }
   } catch {
     error.value = 'Network error.'
@@ -1144,6 +1156,14 @@ function handleSignOut() {
       <!-- Error display -->
       <div v-if="error" class="mt-4 p-3 border-2 border-ko/30 bg-ko/5 text-center">
         <p class="font-mono text-xs text-ko">{{ error }}</p>
+        <RouterLink
+          v-if="activeFightLink"
+          :to="`/arena/${activeFightLink}`"
+          class="inline-block mt-2 px-6 py-2 bg-neon-cyan/10 border-2 border-neon-cyan text-neon-cyan
+                 font-display font-black text-xs tracking-widest hover:bg-neon-cyan/20 transition-all neon-border-cyan"
+        >
+          REJOIN FIGHT
+        </RouterLink>
         <div v-if="rateLimitCountdown > 0" class="mt-2 flex items-center justify-center gap-2">
           <div class="w-4 h-4 border-2 border-neon-purple/60 border-t-neon-purple rounded-full animate-spin" />
           <p class="font-display font-bold text-sm text-neon-purple tracking-wider">
diff --git a/server/src/engine/orchestrator.ts b/server/src/engine/orchestrator.ts
index c2d837a..32ce611 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/orchestrator.ts
+++ b/server/src/engine/orchestrator.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ interface WebhookResponse {
 import { MAX_ROUNDS, KO_THRESHOLD, MAX_RESPONSE_BYTES, STARTING_HP, ELO_K_FACTOR, ELO_K_FACTOR_MOCK, MAX_ANSWER_LENGTH, MAX_TRASH_TALK_LENGTH } from '../lib/constants.js'
 
 // Track bots currently in a fight to prevent concurrent fights
-const activeFighters = new Set<string>()
+// Maps botId → fightId so we can direct users to their active fight
+const activeFighters = new Map<string, string>()
 
 export function getActiveFighterCount(): number {
   return activeFighters.size
@@ -57,6 +58,10 @@ export function isInFight(botId: string): boolean {
   return activeFighters.has(botId)
 }
 
+export function getActiveFightId(botId: string): string | undefined {
+  return activeFighters.get(botId)
+}
+
 function emit(fightId: string, type: string, data: Record<string, unknown>) {
   fightEvents.emit({
     fightId,
@@ -621,13 +626,13 @@ export async function runFight(botAId: string, botBId: string, mode: 'free' | 'r
   if (activeFighters.has(botAId)) throw new Error(`Bot ${botAId} is already in a fight`)
   if (activeFighters.has(botBId)) throw new Error(`Bot ${botBId} is already in a fight`)
 
-  activeFighters.add(botAId)
-  activeFighters.add(botBId)
+  const [botA, botB] = await loadBots(botAId, botBId)
+  const arena = randomArena()
+  const fightId = await createFightRecord(botA, botB, arena, mode)
+  activeFighters.set(botAId, fightId)
+  activeFighters.set(botBId, fightId)
 
   try {
-    const [botA, botB] = await loadBots(botAId, botBId)
-    const arena = randomArena()
-    const fightId = await createFightRecord(botA, botB, arena, mode)
     await executeFightRounds(fightId, botA, botB, arena, mode)
     return fightId
   } finally {
@@ -644,12 +649,11 @@ export async function runFightAsync(botAId: string, botBId: string, mode: 'free'
   if (activeFighters.has(botAId)) throw new Error(`Bot ${botAId} is already in a fight`)
   if (activeFighters.has(botBId)) throw new Error(`Bot ${botBId} is already in a fight`)
 
-  activeFighters.add(botAId)
-  activeFighters.add(botBId)
-
   const [botA, botB] = await loadBots(botAId, botBId)
   const arena = randomArena()
   const fightId = await createFightRecord(botA, botB, arena, mode)
+  activeFighters.set(botAId, fightId)
+  activeFighters.set(botBId, fightId)
 
   executeFightRounds(fightId, botA, botB, arena, mode)
     .catch(err => {
diff --git a/server/src/engine/queue.ts b/server/src/engine/queue.ts
index fe9d537..6a466e4 100644
--- a/server/src/engine/queue.ts
+++ b/server/src/engine/queue.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { db, schema } from '../db/index.js'
 import { logger } from '../lib/logger.js'
 import { eq } from 'drizzle-orm'
-import { runFightAsync, isInFight } from './orchestrator.js'
+import { runFightAsync, isInFight, getActiveFightId } from './orchestrator.js'
 import { seedMockBots } from './mock.js'
 
 interface QueueEntry {
@@ -55,9 +55,12 @@ export async function joinQueue(botId: string): Promise<string> {
     throw new Error(`Cooldown active. Wait ${waitSec}s.`)
   }
 
-  // Check if already in a fight
+  // Check if already in a fight — return the fight ID so frontend can redirect
   if (isInFight(botId)) {
-    throw new Error('Bot is already in a fight.')
+    const activeFightId = getActiveFightId(botId)
+    const err = new Error('Bot is already in a fight.')
+    ;(err as any).fightId = activeFightId
+    throw err
   }
 
   // Load bot
diff --git a/server/src/routes/fights.ts b/server/src/routes/fights.ts
index fed154f..19f36be 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/fights.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/fights.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { eq, desc, inArray } from 'drizzle-orm'
 import { ARENAS } from '../engine/arenas.js'
 import { runMockFight, isClassicBot } from '../engine/mock.js'
 import { startFightLoop } from '../engine/fight-loop.js'
-import { runFight, runFightAsync, isInFight } from '../engine/orchestrator.js'
+import { runFight, runFightAsync, isInFight, getActiveFightId } from '../engine/orchestrator.js'
 import { fightEvents } from '../engine/events.js'
 import { botRateLimit } from '../middleware/rate-limit.js'
 import { getPendingChallenge, getPendingAnswers, submitHumanResponse } from '../engine/human-responses.js'
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ fightsRouter.post('/matchmake/:botId', botRateLimit(10_000), async (c) => {
   }
 
   if (isInFight(botId)) {
-    return c.json({ error: 'Bot is already in a fight.' }, 400)
+    return c.json({ error: 'Bot is already in a fight.', fightId: getActiveFightId(botId) }, 409)
   }
 
   const allBots = await db.select()
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ fightsRouter.post('/practice/:botId', botRateLimit(10_000), async (c) => {
   const bot = botRows[0]
 
   if (isInFight(botId)) {
-    return c.json({ error: 'Bot is already in a fight.' }, 400)
+    return c.json({ error: 'Bot is already in a fight.', fightId: getActiveFightId(botId) }, 409)
   }
 
   // Find all classic bots
diff --git a/server/src/routes/queue.ts b/server/src/routes/queue.ts
index a7408d9..0be7f15 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/queue.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/queue.ts
@@ -31,9 +31,10 @@ queueRouter.post('/join/:botId', async (c) => {
   try {
     const fightId = await joinQueue(botId)
     return c.json({ fightId, message: 'Matched! Fight starting.' })
-  } catch (err) {
+  } catch (err: any) {
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Queue error'
-    return c.json({ error: message }, 500)
+    const status = message.includes('already in a fight') ? 409 : 500
+    return c.json({ error: message, fightId: err?.fightId || undefined }, status)
   }
 })