diff --git a/cli/cmd/runner_register.go b/cli/cmd/runner_register.go
index 493e6e607..a8edc2fe0 100644
--- a/cli/cmd/runner_register.go
+++ b/cli/cmd/runner_register.go
@@ -83,9 +83,10 @@ func applyRunnerRegisterFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 	if cmd.PersistentFlags().Changed("tags") {
 		util.Config.Runner.Tags = runnerRegisterArgs.tags
 	}
-	if cmd.PersistentFlags().Changed("enabled") {
-		util.Config.Runner.Enabled = runnerRegisterArgs.enabled
-	}
+	// Always apply enabled: the flag defaults to true, but util.Config.Runner.Enabled
+	// stays false (zero value) unless we copy it. Without this, registration creates
+	// an inactive runner that never receives tasks.
+	util.Config.Runner.Enabled = runnerRegisterArgs.enabled
 }
 
 func registerRunner(cmd *cobra.Command) {
diff --git a/cli/cmd/runner_register_test.go b/cli/cmd/runner_register_test.go
index d275603d2..e09859a1e 100644
--- a/cli/cmd/runner_register_test.go
+++ b/cli/cmd/runner_register_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/semaphoreui/semaphore/util"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
@@ -109,3 +110,29 @@ func TestInitRunnerRegistrationToken_FlagFileTakesPriority(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.Equal(t, "flag-token", util.Config.Runner.RegistrationToken)
 }
+
+func TestApplyRunnerRegisterFlags_EnabledDefaultsTrue(t *testing.T) {
+	setupRunnerConfig()
+	util.Config.Runner.Enabled = false
+	runnerRegisterArgs.enabled = true
+
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&runnerRegisterArgs.enabled, "enabled", true, "")
+	applyRunnerRegisterFlags(cmd)
+
+	assert.True(t, util.Config.Runner.Enabled)
+}
+
+func TestApplyRunnerRegisterFlags_EnabledFalseWhenFlagSet(t *testing.T) {
+	setupRunnerConfig()
+	util.Config.Runner.Enabled = true
+	runnerRegisterArgs.enabled = false
+
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&runnerRegisterArgs.enabled, "enabled", true, "")
+	err := cmd.PersistentFlags().Set("enabled", "false")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	applyRunnerRegisterFlags(cmd)
+
+	assert.False(t, util.Config.Runner.Enabled)
+}
diff --git a/cli/cmd/runner_start.go b/cli/cmd/runner_start.go
index 9713f7ec3..c882fcc86 100644
--- a/cli/cmd/runner_start.go
+++ b/cli/cmd/runner_start.go
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ func runRunner() {
 	if runnerStartArgs.register {
 
 		initRunnerRegistrationToken()
+		// runner start has no --enabled flag; new registrations should be active.
+		util.Config.Runner.Enabled = true
 
 		if util.Config.Runner.Token == "" {
 
diff --git a/web/src/components/RunnerForm.vue b/web/src/components/RunnerForm.vue
index e281ff7a5..939e47a7d 100644
--- a/web/src/components/RunnerForm.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/RunnerForm.vue
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ export default {
       // itself later using a one-time registration token.
       return {
         registered: true,
+        active: true,
         is_default: this.projectId == null,
       };
     },