diff --git a/cmd/gcs/main.go b/cmd/gcs/main.go
index 68ab28d499..c21ea167fa 100644
--- a/cmd/gcs/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gcs/main.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/guest/bridge"
 	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/guest/cgroup"
 	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/guest/kmsg"
+	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/guest/prot"
 	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/guest/runtime/hcsv2"
 	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/guest/runtime/runc"
 	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/guest/transport"
@@ -385,35 +386,17 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		logrus.WithError(err).Fatal("failed to initialize new runc runtime")
 	}
-	mux := bridge.NewBridgeMux()
-	b := bridge.Bridge{
-		Handler:  mux,
-		EnableV4: *v4,
-	}
+
 	h := hcsv2.NewHost(rtime, tport, initialEnforcer, logWriter)
 	// Initialize virtual pod support in the host
 	if err := h.InitializeVirtualPodSupport(virtualPodsControl); err != nil {
 		logrus.WithError(err).Warn("Virtual pod support initialization failed")
 	}
-	b.AssignHandlers(mux, h)
 
-	var bridgeIn io.ReadCloser
-	var bridgeOut io.WriteCloser
-	if *useInOutErr {
-		bridgeIn = os.Stdin
-		bridgeOut = os.Stdout
-	} else {
-		const commandPort uint32 = 0x40000000
-		bridgeCon, err := tport.Dial(commandPort)
-		if err != nil {
-			logrus.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
-				"port":          commandPort,
-				logrus.ErrorKey: err,
-			}).Fatal("failed to dial host vsock connection")
-		}
-		bridgeIn = bridgeCon
-		bridgeOut = bridgeCon
-	}
+	// During live migration the VM is frozen and only wakes up when the host
+	// shim is ready, so the vsock port should be immediately available. We
+	// use a tight retry interval instead of exponential backoff.
+	const reconnectInterval = 100 * time.Millisecond
 
 	event := cgroups1.MemoryThresholdEvent(*gcsMemLimitBytes, false)
 	gefd, err := gcsControl.RegisterMemoryEvent(event)
@@ -448,10 +431,42 @@ func main() {
 	go readMemoryEvents(startTime, gefdFile, "/gcs", int64(*gcsMemLimitBytes), gcsControl)
 	go readMemoryEvents(startTime, oomFile, "/containers", containersLimit, containersControl)
 	go readMemoryEvents(startTime, virtualPodsOomFile, "/containers/virtual-pods", containersLimit, virtualPodsControl)
-	err = b.ListenAndServe(bridgeIn, bridgeOut)
-	if err != nil {
-		logrus.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
-			logrus.ErrorKey: err,
-		}).Fatal("failed to serve gcs service")
+
+	mux := bridge.NewBridgeMux()
+	b := bridge.New(mux, *v4)
+	b.AssignHandlers(mux, h)
+
+	// Reconnect loop: dial the host, serve until the connection drops, then
+	// re-dial. During live migration the VM is frozen and only wakes up when
+	// the destination host shim is ready, so the vsock port should be
+	// immediately available.
+	for {
+		var bridgeIn io.ReadCloser
+		var bridgeOut io.WriteCloser
+		if *useInOutErr {
+			bridgeIn = os.Stdin
+			bridgeOut = os.Stdout
+		} else {
+			bridgeCon, dialErr := tport.Dial(prot.LinuxGcsVsockPort)
+			if dialErr != nil {
+				logrus.WithError(dialErr).Warn("failed to dial host, retrying")
+				time.Sleep(reconnectInterval)
+				continue
+			}
+			bridgeIn = bridgeCon
+			bridgeOut = bridgeCon
+		}
+
+		logrus.Info("bridge connected, serving")
+
+		serveErr := b.ListenAndServe(bridgeIn, bridgeOut)
+
+		if b.ShutdownRequested() {
+			logrus.Info("bridge shutdown requested, exiting reconnect loop")
+			break
+		}
+
+		logrus.WithError(serveErr).Warn("bridge connection lost, will reconnect")
+		time.Sleep(reconnectInterval)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/guest/bridge/bridge.go b/internal/guest/bridge/bridge.go
index 4ea03ed104..d8d57e786d 100644
--- a/internal/guest/bridge/bridge.go
+++ b/internal/guest/bridge/bridge.go
@@ -189,6 +189,71 @@ type Bridge struct {
 	hasQuitPending atomic.Bool
 
 	protVer prot.ProtocolVersion
+
+	// notifyMu guards connected and pendingNotifications.
+	notifyMu sync.Mutex
+	// connected is true while ListenAndServe is running and responseChan
+	// is valid. When false, notifications are queued in pendingNotifications.
+	connected bool
+	// pendingNotifications holds container exit notifications that arrived
+	// while the bridge was disconnected. They are drained when ListenAndServe
+	// reconnects.
+	pendingNotifications []*prot.ContainerNotification
+}
+
+// New creates a Bridge. Container exit notifications are queued while
+// disconnected and drained on reconnect.
+func New(handler Handler, enableV4 bool) *Bridge {
+	return &Bridge{
+		Handler:  handler,
+		EnableV4: enableV4,
+	}
+}
+
+// publishNotification routes a container exit notification to the bridge.
+// If the bridge is disconnected, the notification is queued and will be
+// drained when ListenAndServe reconnects.
+func (b *Bridge) publishNotification(n *prot.ContainerNotification) {
+	b.notifyMu.Lock()
+	if !b.connected {
+		logrus.WithField("containerID", n.ContainerID).
+			Warn("bridge not connected, queueing container notification")
+		b.pendingNotifications = append(b.pendingNotifications, n)
+		b.notifyMu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	b.notifyMu.Unlock()
+	b.PublishNotification(n)
+}
+
+// drainPendingNotifications sends any queued notifications through the bridge.
+// Must be called after responseChan is valid and the response writer goroutine
+// is running.
+func (b *Bridge) drainPendingNotifications() {
+	b.notifyMu.Lock()
+	b.connected = true
+	drain := b.pendingNotifications
+	b.pendingNotifications = nil
+	b.notifyMu.Unlock()
+
+	for _, n := range drain {
+		logrus.WithField("containerID", n.ContainerID).
+			Info("draining queued container notification")
+		b.PublishNotification(n)
+	}
+}
+
+// disconnectNotifications marks the bridge as disconnected so future
+// publishNotification calls queue instead of sending.
+func (b *Bridge) disconnectNotifications() {
+	b.notifyMu.Lock()
+	b.connected = false
+	b.notifyMu.Unlock()
+}
+
+// ShutdownRequested returns true if the bridge has been asked to shut down.
+func (b *Bridge) ShutdownRequested() bool {
+	return b.hasQuitPending.Load()
 }
 
 // AssignHandlers creates and assigns the appropriate bridge
@@ -230,13 +295,17 @@ func (b *Bridge) ListenAndServe(bridgeIn io.ReadCloser, bridgeOut io.WriteCloser
 	responseErrChan := make(chan error)
 	b.quitChan = make(chan bool)
 
-	defer close(b.quitChan)
+	// Defers execute in LIFO order. We close quitChan first to stop the
+	// read loop, then disconnect notifications (so any late publishNotification
+	// calls queue instead of sending to a closing responseChan), then tear
+	// down the remaining channels and connections.
+	defer bridgeIn.Close()
+	defer close(requestErrChan)
+	defer close(requestChan)
 	defer bridgeOut.Close()
 	defer close(responseErrChan)
-	defer close(b.responseChan)
-	defer close(requestChan)
-	defer close(requestErrChan)
-	defer bridgeIn.Close()
+	defer b.disconnectNotifications()
+	defer close(b.quitChan)
 
 	// Receive bridge requests and schedule them to be processed.
 	go func() {
@@ -396,6 +465,9 @@ func (b *Bridge) ListenAndServe(bridgeIn io.ReadCloser, bridgeOut io.WriteCloser
 		responseErrChan <- resperr
 	}()
 
+	// Drain queued notifications now that the response writer is running.
+	b.drainPendingNotifications()
+
 	select {
 	case err := <-requestErrChan:
 		return err
diff --git a/internal/guest/bridge/bridge_reconnect_test.go b/internal/guest/bridge/bridge_reconnect_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2a8c8b702a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/guest/bridge/bridge_reconnect_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package bridge
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/Microsoft/hcsshim/internal/guest/prot"
+)
+
+func TestBridge_NotificationQueuedWhenDisconnected(t *testing.T) {
+	b := New(nil, false)
+	// Bridge starts disconnected (connected == false).
+	b.publishNotification(&prot.ContainerNotification{
+		MessageBase: prot.MessageBase{ContainerID: "c1"},
+	})
+	b.publishNotification(&prot.ContainerNotification{
+		MessageBase: prot.MessageBase{ContainerID: "c2"},
+	})
+
+	b.notifyMu.Lock()
+	if len(b.pendingNotifications) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 2 queued, got %d", len(b.pendingNotifications))
+	}
+	b.notifyMu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func TestBridge_DrainOnReconnect(t *testing.T) {
+	b := New(nil, false)
+
+	// Queue notifications while disconnected.
+	b.publishNotification(&prot.ContainerNotification{
+		MessageBase: prot.MessageBase{ContainerID: "c1"},
+	})
+	b.publishNotification(&prot.ContainerNotification{
+		MessageBase: prot.MessageBase{ContainerID: "c2"},
+	})
+
+	// Simulate what ListenAndServe does: create channels, start writer,
+	// then drain.
+	b.responseChan = make(chan bridgeResponse, 4)
+
+	b.drainPendingNotifications()
+
+	// Collect drained notifications.
+	var ids []string
+	for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
+		select {
+		case resp := <-b.responseChan:
+			n := resp.response.(*prot.ContainerNotification)
+			ids = append(ids, n.ContainerID)
+		case <-time.After(time.Second):
+			t.Fatalf("timed out waiting for notification %d", i)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(ids) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 2 drained notifications, got %d", len(ids))
+	}
+
+	b.notifyMu.Lock()
+	if len(b.pendingNotifications) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 0 pending after drain, got %d", len(b.pendingNotifications))
+	}
+	b.notifyMu.Unlock()
+}
+
+func TestBridge_DisconnectQueuesAfterDrain(t *testing.T) {
+	b := New(nil, false)
+	b.responseChan = make(chan bridgeResponse, 4)
+
+	// Drain with nothing pending — just sets connected = true.
+	b.drainPendingNotifications()
+
+	// Send while connected — goes directly to responseChan.
+	b.publishNotification(&prot.ContainerNotification{
+		MessageBase: prot.MessageBase{ContainerID: "live"},
+	})
+
+	select {
+	case resp := <-b.responseChan:
+		n := resp.response.(*prot.ContainerNotification)
+		if n.ContainerID != "live" {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 'live', got %q", n.ContainerID)
+		}
+	default:
+		t.Fatal("expected notification on responseChan")
+	}
+
+	// Disconnect — future notifications should queue.
+	b.disconnectNotifications()
+
+	b.publishNotification(&prot.ContainerNotification{
+		MessageBase: prot.MessageBase{ContainerID: "queued"},
+	})
+
+	b.notifyMu.Lock()
+	if len(b.pendingNotifications) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 1 queued after disconnect, got %d", len(b.pendingNotifications))
+	}
+	b.notifyMu.Unlock()
+
+	// Nothing should be on responseChan.
+	select {
+	case <-b.responseChan:
+		t.Fatal("should not have received on responseChan after disconnect")
+	default:
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBridge_FullReconnectCycle(t *testing.T) {
+	b := New(nil, false)
+
+	// --- Iteration 1: simulate ListenAndServe ---
+	r1, w1 := io.Pipe()
+	b.responseChan = make(chan bridgeResponse, 4)
+	b.quitChan = make(chan bool)
+
+	go func() {
+		for range b.responseChan {
+		}
+	}() // drain writer
+
+	b.drainPendingNotifications()
+
+	// Send a notification while connected.
+	b.publishNotification(&prot.ContainerNotification{
+		MessageBase: prot.MessageBase{ContainerID: "iter1"},
+	})
+
+	// Simulate bridge drop — disconnect, close channels.
+	b.disconnectNotifications()
+	close(b.quitChan)
+	close(b.responseChan)
+	r1.Close()
+	w1.Close()
+
+	// --- Between iterations: container exits ---
+	b.publishNotification(&prot.ContainerNotification{
+		MessageBase: prot.MessageBase{ContainerID: "between"},
+	})
+
+	b.notifyMu.Lock()
+	if len(b.pendingNotifications) != 1 || b.pendingNotifications[0].ContainerID != "between" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 'between' queued, got %v", b.pendingNotifications)
+	}
+	b.notifyMu.Unlock()
+
+	// --- Iteration 2: reconnect ---
+	b.responseChan = make(chan bridgeResponse, 4)
+	b.quitChan = make(chan bool)
+
+	b.drainPendingNotifications()
+
+	select {
+	case resp := <-b.responseChan:
+		n := resp.response.(*prot.ContainerNotification)
+		if n.ContainerID != "between" {
+			t.Fatalf("expected 'between', got %q", n.ContainerID)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for drained notification")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/guest/bridge/bridge_v2.go b/internal/guest/bridge/bridge_v2.go
index 800094e549..dc13ec6428 100644
--- a/internal/guest/bridge/bridge_v2.go
+++ b/internal/guest/bridge/bridge_v2.go
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func (b *Bridge) createContainerV2(r *Request) (_ RequestResponse, err error) {
 			Result:     0,
 			ResultInfo: "",
 		}
-		b.PublishNotification(notification)
+		b.publishNotification(notification)
 	}()
 
 	return &prot.ContainerCreateResponse{}, nil
diff --git a/internal/guest/prot/protocol.go b/internal/guest/prot/protocol.go
index 16e1f9daa3..ef88bd278e 100644
--- a/internal/guest/prot/protocol.go
+++ b/internal/guest/prot/protocol.go
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ const (
 	messageVersionShift = 0
 )
 
+const (
+	// LinuxGcsVsockPort is the vsock port the GCS connects to on the host.
+	LinuxGcsVsockPort uint32 = 0x40000000
+)
+
 // MessageType is the type of the message.
 type MessageType uint32