diff --git a/rust/src/game/mod.rs b/rust/src/game/mod.rs
index 65b99c4..8103ad3 100644
--- a/rust/src/game/mod.rs
+++ b/rust/src/game/mod.rs
@@ -363,6 +363,10 @@ impl Game {
         self.is_host || self.host_privileges
     }
 
+    pub fn is_host(&self) -> bool {
+        self.is_host
+    }
+
     pub fn set_ready(&mut self, ready: bool) {
         if let Some(self_id) = self.self_id {
             self.run_deferred(move |s| {
diff --git a/rust/src/net/protocol.rs b/rust/src/net/protocol.rs
index 5b7d62f..91b9bef 100644
--- a/rust/src/net/protocol.rs
+++ b/rust/src/net/protocol.rs
@@ -557,6 +557,17 @@ impl NetworkManager {
                                 }
                             }
                         }
+                        Package::GameStarted => {
+                            if let Some(game) = &mut Game::singleton() {
+                                let player =
+                                    game.bind().find_player_by_addr(&conn.address).cloned();
+                                if let Some(player) = player
+                                    && player.has_host_privileges
+                                {
+                                    game.bind_mut().start_game();
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
                         _ => {}
                     },
                 },
diff --git a/rust/src/ui/lobby.rs b/rust/src/ui/lobby.rs
index f66baa0..31e4aac 100644
--- a/rust/src/ui/lobby.rs
+++ b/rust/src/ui/lobby.rs
@@ -397,7 +397,13 @@ impl LobbyPanel {
             }
         } else {
             if let Some(game) = &mut Game::singleton() {
-                game.bind_mut().start_game();
+                if let Some(peer) = &mut NetworkManager::singleton().bind_mut().peer
+                    && let PeerKind::Client(peer, addr) = peer
+                {
+                    peer.send_reliable(addr, Package::GameStarted);
+                } else {
+                    game.bind_mut().start_game();
+                }
             }
         }
     }