diff --git a/cmd/limactl/edit.go b/cmd/limactl/edit.go
index 70a54a858f6..e8742928ca1 100644
--- a/cmd/limactl/edit.go
+++ b/cmd/limactl/edit.go
@@ -10,12 +10,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/cmd/limactl/editflags"
 	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/cmd/limactl/guessarg"
 	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/pkg/editutil"
-	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/pkg/instance"
 	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/pkg/limayaml"
-	networks "github.com/lima-vm/lima/pkg/networks/reconcile"
 	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/pkg/store"
 	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/pkg/store/filenames"
-	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/pkg/uiutil"
 	"github.com/lima-vm/lima/pkg/yqutil"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -132,34 +129,12 @@ func editAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}
 	if inst != nil {
 		logrus.Infof("Instance %q configuration edited", inst.Name)
+		if _, err = startWithAsking(cmd, inst.Name, false, false); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
-
-	if !tty {
-		// use "start" to start it
-		return nil
-	}
-	if inst == nil {
-		// edited a limayaml file directly
-		return nil
-	}
-	startNow, err := askWhetherToStart()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if !startNow {
-		return nil
-	}
-	ctx := cmd.Context()
-	err = networks.Reconcile(ctx, inst.Name)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return instance.Start(ctx, inst, "", false)
-}
-
-func askWhetherToStart() (bool, error) {
-	message := "Do you want to start the instance now? "
-	return uiutil.Confirm(message, true)
+	// inst is nil if edited a limayaml file directly
+	return nil
 }
 
 func editBashComplete(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string, _ string) ([]string, cobra.ShellCompDirective) {
diff --git a/cmd/limactl/shell.go b/cmd/limactl/shell.go
index 694413923d8..6fc5fa78e05 100644
--- a/cmd/limactl/shell.go
+++ b/cmd/limactl/shell.go
@@ -71,12 +71,20 @@ func shellAction(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	inst, err := store.Inspect(instName)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("instance %q does not exist, run `limactl create %s` to create a new instance", instName, instName)
+			_, err = startWithAsking(cmd, instName, true, true)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			inst, err = store.Inspect(instName)
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
-		return err
 	}
 	if inst.Status == store.StatusStopped {
-		return fmt.Errorf("instance %q is stopped, run `limactl start %s` to start the instance", instName, instName)
+		if _, err = startWithAsking(cmd, instName, false, true); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	// When workDir is explicitly set, the shell MUST have workDir as the cwd, or exit with an error.
diff --git a/cmd/limactl/start.go b/cmd/limactl/start.go
index 3825bc5e683..d7d23b6b143 100644
--- a/cmd/limactl/start.go
+++ b/cmd/limactl/start.go
@@ -529,3 +529,55 @@ func startBashComplete(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string, _ string) ([]string, cobr
 	compTmpl, _ := bashCompleteTemplateNames(cmd)
 	return append(compInst, compTmpl...), cobra.ShellCompDirectiveDefault
 }
+
+// startWithAsking starts the instance after a confirmation prompt.
+//
+// If newInst is set to true, this function creates the instance too.
+//
+// If mandatory is set to true, and the answer to the confirmation prompt is No,
+// the function returns an error that contains an instruction to start the instance manually.
+func startWithAsking(cmd *cobra.Command, instName string, newInst, mandatory bool) (bool, error) {
+	flags := cmd.Flags()
+	tty, err := flags.GetBool("tty")
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	errS := fmt.Sprintf("instance %q is stopped, run `limactl start %s` to start the instance", instName, instName)
+	if newInst {
+		errS = fmt.Sprintf("instance %q does not exist, run `limactl create %s` to create a new instance", instName, instName)
+	}
+	if !tty {
+		if mandatory {
+			return false, errors.New(errS)
+		}
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	logrus.Error(errS)
+
+	message := fmt.Sprintf("Do you want to start the instance %q now?", instName)
+	if newInst {
+		message = fmt.Sprintf("Do you want to create and start the instance %q using the default template now?", instName)
+	}
+	ans, err := uiutil.Confirm(message, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	if !ans {
+		if mandatory {
+			return ans, errors.New(errS)
+		}
+		return ans, nil
+	}
+	if newInst {
+		rootCmd := cmd.Root()
+		// The create command shows the template chooser UI, etc.
+		rootCmd.SetArgs([]string{"create", instName})
+		if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {
+			return ans, err
+		}
+	}
+	rootCmd := cmd.Root()
+	// The start command reconciliates the networks, etc.
+	rootCmd.SetArgs([]string{"start", instName})
+	return ans, rootCmd.Execute()
+}