diff --git a/src/ferrolang_vm/cli.py b/src/ferrolang_vm/cli.py
index 28aa392..e749203 100644
--- a/src/ferrolang_vm/cli.py
+++ b/src/ferrolang_vm/cli.py
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ def main() -> int:
         commands.add_parser(name)
     reset = commands.add_parser("reset")
     reset.add_argument("--timeout", type=int, default=45)
+    soft_reset = commands.add_parser("soft-reset")
+    soft_reset.add_argument("--timeout", type=int, default=45)
     execute = commands.add_parser("exec")
     execute.add_argument("command")
     put = commands.add_parser("put")
@@ -63,10 +65,13 @@ def main() -> int:
             recognized = RapidOCR()(result["path"])
             print("\n".join(recognized.txts or ()))
             return 0
-        if args.op == "reset":
-            rpc({"op": "stop"}, start_daemon=True)
-            time.sleep(.5)
-            rpc({"op": "start"}, start_daemon=True)
+        if args.op in ("reset", "soft-reset"):
+            if args.op == "reset":
+                rpc({"op": "stop"}, start_daemon=True)
+                time.sleep(.5)
+                rpc({"op": "start"}, start_daemon=True)
+            else:
+                rpc({"op": "soft-reset"})
             # FreeDOS displays its default boot menu before FDAUTO.BAT starts
             # TCPAGENT. This is input, not a readiness delay.
             time.sleep(2)
@@ -75,7 +80,7 @@ def main() -> int:
             while time.monotonic() < deadline:
                 try:
                     if str(rpc({"op": "ping"})["response"]).startswith("OK 504F4E47"):
-                        print(json.dumps({"reset": True, "agent": "PONG"}))
+                        print(json.dumps({"reset": args.op, "agent": "PONG"}))
                         return 0
                 except RuntimeError:
                     time.sleep(.5)
diff --git a/src/ferrolang_vm/daemon.py b/src/ferrolang_vm/daemon.py
index 84ab4bd..8c55bcb 100644
--- a/src/ferrolang_vm/daemon.py
+++ b/src/ferrolang_vm/daemon.py
@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@ class Host:
             return {"agent_connected": self.agent_ready.is_set(), "qemu_running": running, "log": str(LOG_PATH)}
         if op == "start": return self.start()
         if op == "stop": return self.stop()
+        if op == "soft-reset":
+            self.monitor("system_reset")
+            log_event(logging.INFO, "qemu soft reset requested")
+            return {"reset": "requested"}
         if op == "ping": return self.ping()
         if op == "exec": return self.exec(str(request["command"]))
         if op == "put": return self.put(str(request["source"]), str(request["destination"]))
diff --git a/tools/README.md b/tools/README.md
index 2b0b4b8..810ebea 100644
--- a/tools/README.md
+++ b/tools/README.md
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ lnav .qemu/ferro-vm.log
 Commands:
 
 ```powershell
+uv run ferro-vm reset       # clean QEMU quit and restart
+uv run ferro-vm soft-reset  # QEMU system_reset
 uv run ferro-vm ping
 uv run ferro-vm exec 'dir C:\FEC'
 uv run ferro-vm put fec/src/check.c 'C:\FEC\SRC\CHECK.C'
@@ -35,8 +37,9 @@ uv run ferro-vm ocr
 uv run ferro-vm stop
 ```
 
-The daemon logs command metadata, DOS output, exit status, transfers, and
-agent lifecycle events as UTF-8 lines. It deliberately never logs raw binary
+Both reset modes wait for FreeDOS to boot, submit the default boot-menu Enter,
+and require TCPAGENT `PING`/`PONG` before succeeding. The daemon logs command
+metadata, DOS output, exit status, transfers, and agent lifecycle events as UTF-8 lines. It deliberately never logs raw binary
 payloads or protocol hex.
 
 ## Standalone OCR