diff --git a/deploy/circus.sh b/deploy/circus.sh
index f887835..b378aa3 100644
--- a/deploy/circus.sh
+++ b/deploy/circus.sh
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ case "$cmd" in
     ;;
   up)
     start_all
-    was=$(cat .queue-was-paused 2>/dev/null || echo true); rm -f .queue-was-paused
-    resume_if "$was"
+    # Only a queue that `down` paused is resumed; without that marker the queue is left as it is.
+    if [ -f .queue-was-paused ]; then was=$(cat .queue-was-paused); rm -f .queue-was-paused; resume_if "$was"; fi
     docker compose ps --format 'table {{.Service}}\t{{.Status}}'
     ;;
   down)