diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3cbf4a57e..dd1091e87 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Fixed an issue in the runner where starting a DailyTransport room via
+  `/start` didn't support using the `DAILY_SAMPLE_ROOM_URL` env var.
+
 - Fixed an issue in `ServiceSwitcher` where the `STTService`s would result in
   all STT services producing `TranscriptionFrame`s.
 
diff --git a/src/pipecat/runner/run.py b/src/pipecat/runner/run.py
index 4c1d3135d..b5a805c1f 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/runner/run.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/runner/run.py
@@ -573,8 +573,14 @@ def _setup_daily_routes(app: FastAPI):
 
         bot_module = _get_bot_module()
 
+        existing_room_url = os.getenv("DAILY_SAMPLE_ROOM_URL")
+
         result = None
-        if create_daily_room:
+
+        # Configure room if:
+        # 1. Explicitly requested via createDailyRoom in payload
+        # 2. Using pre-configured room from DAILY_SAMPLE_ROOM_URL env var
+        if create_daily_room or existing_room_url:
             import aiohttp
 
             from pipecat.runner.daily import configure