diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 90caa73..f3c636d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -141,6 +141,21 @@ The command waits for both application services to become healthy, then prints
 the frontend URL. Open `http://localhost:5173`, register a local account, add a
 repository, and start analysis. Press `Ctrl+C` to stop all four services.
 
+On repeat runs the images are reused from cache, so startup is fast. If you have
+already built the images once and only want to restart the existing containers
+without the build step, use:
+
+```bash
+npm run partha:up
+```
+
+To stop the stack without the interactive `Ctrl+C` (for example from another
+terminal), use:
+
+```bash
+npm run partha:down
+```
+
 PostgreSQL data and imported repository storage persist across ordinary stops
 and restarts. To permanently delete that local Compose data and return to a
 clean state, run:
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 64e0da2..cde1976 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
   ],
   "scripts": {
     "partha": "node scripts/partha.mjs",
+    "partha:up": "node scripts/partha.mjs --no-build",
+    "partha:down": "docker compose down",
     "dev:frontend": "npm --prefix apps/frontend run dev",
     "build:frontend": "npm --prefix apps/frontend run build",
     "preview:frontend": "npm --prefix apps/frontend run preview",
diff --git a/scripts/partha.mjs b/scripts/partha.mjs
index 1cd1042..9342da8 100644
--- a/scripts/partha.mjs
+++ b/scripts/partha.mjs
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ let interrupted = false;
 let startupAttempted = false;
 let releaseKeepAlive;
 
+// `--no-build` skips image builds for instant restarts once images exist.
+const NO_BUILD = process.argv.includes('--no-build');
+const COMPOSE_UP_ARGS = NO_BUILD ? ['up', '--wait'] : ['up', '--build', '--wait'];
+
 function commandOutput(result) {
   return [result.stdout, result.stderr]
     .filter(Boolean)
@@ -128,7 +132,7 @@ async function main() {
 
   try {
     startupAttempted = true;
-    await run('docker', ['compose', 'up', '--build', '--wait']);
+    await run('docker', ['compose', ...COMPOSE_UP_ARGS]);
     await Promise.all([
       waitForUrl(API_READY_URL, 'PARTHA API'),
       waitForUrl(FRONTEND_URL, 'PARTHA frontend'),