diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view.tsx b/apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view.tsx
index 01569cfe..0541de9f 100644
--- a/apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view.tsx
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view.tsx
@@ -60,9 +60,6 @@ import {
 // Stable empty array to avoid infinite loop in selector
 const EMPTY_WORKTREES: ReturnType<ReturnType<typeof useAppStore.getState>['getWorktrees']> = [];
 
-/** Delay before starting a newly created feature to allow state to settle */
-const FEATURE_CREATION_SETTLE_DELAY_MS = 500;
-
 export function BoardView() {
   const {
     currentProject,
@@ -461,23 +458,22 @@ export function BoardView() {
         requirePlanApproval: false,
       };
 
+      // Capture existing feature IDs before adding
+      const featuresBeforeIds = new Set(useAppStore.getState().features.map((f) => f.id));
       await handleAddFeature(featureData);
 
-      // Find the newly created feature and start it
-      // We need to wait a moment for the feature to be created
-      setTimeout(async () => {
-        const latestFeatures = useAppStore.getState().features;
-        const newFeature = latestFeatures.find(
-          (f) =>
-            f.branchName === worktree.branch &&
-            f.status === 'backlog' &&
-            f.description.includes(`PR #${prNumber}`)
-        );
+      // Find the newly created feature by looking for an ID that wasn't in the original set
+      const latestFeatures = useAppStore.getState().features;
+      const newFeature = latestFeatures.find((f) => !featuresBeforeIds.has(f.id));
 
-        if (newFeature) {
-          await handleStartImplementation(newFeature);
-        }
-      }, FEATURE_CREATION_SETTLE_DELAY_MS);
+      if (newFeature) {
+        await handleStartImplementation(newFeature);
+      } else {
+        console.error('Could not find newly created feature to start it automatically.');
+        toast.error('Failed to auto-start feature', {
+          description: 'The feature was created but could not be started automatically.',
+        });
+      }
     },
     [handleAddFeature, handleStartImplementation, defaultSkipTests]
   );
@@ -503,22 +499,22 @@ export function BoardView() {
         requirePlanApproval: false,
       };
 
+      // Capture existing feature IDs before adding
+      const featuresBeforeIds = new Set(useAppStore.getState().features.map((f) => f.id));
       await handleAddFeature(featureData);
 
-      // Find the newly created feature and start it
-      setTimeout(async () => {
-        const latestFeatures = useAppStore.getState().features;
-        const newFeature = latestFeatures.find(
-          (f) =>
-            f.branchName === worktree.branch &&
-            f.status === 'backlog' &&
-            f.description.includes('Pull latest from origin/main')
-        );
+      // Find the newly created feature by looking for an ID that wasn't in the original set
+      const latestFeatures = useAppStore.getState().features;
+      const newFeature = latestFeatures.find((f) => !featuresBeforeIds.has(f.id));
 
-        if (newFeature) {
-          await handleStartImplementation(newFeature);
-        }
-      }, FEATURE_CREATION_SETTLE_DELAY_MS);
+      if (newFeature) {
+        await handleStartImplementation(newFeature);
+      } else {
+        console.error('Could not find newly created feature to start it automatically.');
+        toast.error('Failed to auto-start feature', {
+          description: 'The feature was created but could not be started automatically.',
+        });
+      }
     },
     [handleAddFeature, handleStartImplementation, defaultSkipTests]
   );
@@ -526,22 +522,22 @@ export function BoardView() {
   // Handler for "Make" button - creates a feature and immediately starts it
   const handleAddAndStartFeature = useCallback(
     async (featureData: Parameters<typeof handleAddFeature>[0]) => {
+      // Capture existing feature IDs before adding
+      const featuresBeforeIds = new Set(useAppStore.getState().features.map((f) => f.id));
       await handleAddFeature(featureData);
 
-      // Find the newly created feature and start it
-      setTimeout(async () => {
-        const latestFeatures = useAppStore.getState().features;
-        const newFeature = latestFeatures.find(
-          (f) =>
-            f.status === 'backlog' &&
-            f.description === featureData.description &&
-            f.branchName === featureData.branchName
-        );
+      // Find the newly created feature by looking for an ID that wasn't in the original set
+      const latestFeatures = useAppStore.getState().features;
+      const newFeature = latestFeatures.find((f) => !featuresBeforeIds.has(f.id));
 
-        if (newFeature) {
-          await handleStartImplementation(newFeature);
-        }
-      }, FEATURE_CREATION_SETTLE_DELAY_MS);
+      if (newFeature) {
+        await handleStartImplementation(newFeature);
+      } else {
+        console.error('Could not find newly created feature to start it automatically.');
+        toast.error('Failed to auto-start feature', {
+          description: 'The feature was created but could not be started automatically.',
+        });
+      }
     },
     [handleAddFeature, handleStartImplementation]
   );
diff --git a/apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view/dialogs/add-feature-dialog.tsx b/apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view/dialogs/add-feature-dialog.tsx
index 47990a4e..35a95e91 100644
--- a/apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view/dialogs/add-feature-dialog.tsx
+++ b/apps/ui/src/components/views/board-view/dialogs/add-feature-dialog.tsx
@@ -288,24 +288,20 @@ export function AddFeatureDialog({
     onOpenChange(false);
   };
 
-  const handleAdd = () => {
-    const featureData = buildFeatureData();
-    if (!featureData) return;
-
-    onAdd(featureData);
-    resetForm();
-  };
-
-  const handleAddAndStart = () => {
-    if (!onAddAndStart) return;
+  const handleAction = (actionFn?: (data: FeatureData) => void) => {
+    if (!actionFn) return;
 
     const featureData = buildFeatureData();
     if (!featureData) return;
 
-    onAddAndStart(featureData);
+    actionFn(featureData);
     resetForm();
   };
 
+  const handleAdd = () => handleAction(onAdd);
+
+  const handleAddAndStart = () => handleAction(onAddAndStart);
+
   const handleDialogClose = (open: boolean) => {
     onOpenChange(open);
     if (!open) {