diff --git a/crates/aptos/src/node/local_testnet/mod.rs b/crates/aptos/src/node/local_testnet/mod.rs
index 7a19fa18d6a029..5016eb3340098d 100644
--- a/crates/aptos/src/node/local_testnet/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/aptos/src/node/local_testnet/mod.rs
@@ -150,16 +150,28 @@ impl RunLocalTestnet {
             .map(StdRng::from_seed)
             .unwrap_or_else(StdRng::from_entropy);
 
-        let mut node_config = create_single_node_test_config(
-            &self.config_path,
-            &self.test_config_override,
-            &test_dir,
-            false,
-            false,
-            aptos_cached_packages::head_release_bundle(),
-            rng,
-        )
-        .context("Failed to create config for node")?;
+        let validator_config_path = test_dir.join("0").join("node.yaml");
+        let mut node_config = match validator_config_path.exists() {
+            // Start with the existing config if present.
+            true => NodeConfig::load_from_path(&validator_config_path).with_context(|| {
+                format!(
+                    "Failed to load existing config at {}, try using --force-restart",
+                    validator_config_path.display()
+                )
+            })?,
+            // Create a new one if not, e.g. if this is the first run or the user
+            // specified --force-restart.
+            false => create_single_node_test_config(
+                &self.config_path,
+                &self.test_config_override,
+                &test_dir,
+                false,
+                false,
+                aptos_cached_packages::head_release_bundle(),
+                rng,
+            )
+            .context("Failed to create config for node")?,
+        };
 
         eprintln!();