diff --git a/lua/claudecode/init.lua b/lua/claudecode/init.lua
index c4b7744e..0393d172 100644
--- a/lua/claudecode/init.lua
+++ b/lua/claudecode/init.lua
@@ -390,12 +390,22 @@ end
 
 ---Start the Claude Code integration
 ---@param show_startup_notification? boolean Whether to show a notification upon successful startup (defaults to true)
+---@param force_new_terminal? boolean If true, creates a new terminal instance even if server is running
 ---@return boolean success Whether the operation was successful
 ---@return number|string port_or_error The WebSocket port if successful, or error message if failed
-function M.start(show_startup_notification)
+function M.start(show_startup_notification, force_new_terminal)
   if show_startup_notification == nil then
     show_startup_notification = true
   end
+
+  -- If server is already running and we're forcing a new terminal, just create it
+  if M.state.server and force_new_terminal then
+    logger.info("init", "Creating new Claude Code terminal on existing port " .. tostring(M.state.port))
+    local terminal = require("claudecode.terminal")
+    terminal.create_new_instance()
+    return true, M.state.port
+  end
+
   if M.state.server then
     local msg = "Claude Code integration is already running on port " .. tostring(M.state.port)
     logger.warn("init", msg)
@@ -525,10 +535,11 @@ end
 ---Set up user commands
 ---@private
 function M._create_commands()
-  vim.api.nvim_create_user_command("ClaudeCodeStart", function()
-    M.start()
+  vim.api.nvim_create_user_command("ClaudeCodeStart", function(opts)
+    M.start(nil, opts.bang)
   end, {
-    desc = "Start Claude Code integration",
+    bang = true,
+    desc = "Start Claude Code integration (use ! to create multiple instances)",
   })
 
   vim.api.nvim_create_user_command("ClaudeCodeStop", function()
diff --git a/lua/claudecode/terminal.lua b/lua/claudecode/terminal.lua
index fae0b30f..73c16d04 100644
--- a/lua/claudecode/terminal.lua
+++ b/lua/claudecode/terminal.lua
@@ -569,4 +569,21 @@ function M._get_managed_terminal_for_test()
   return nil
 end
 
+---Creates a new Claude Code terminal instance.
+---This always creates a new terminal, regardless of existing ones.
+---@param opts_override table? Overrides for terminal appearance (split_side, split_width_percentage).
+---@param cmd_args string? Arguments to append to the claude command.
+function M.create_new_instance(opts_override, cmd_args)
+  local effective_config = build_config(opts_override)
+  local cmd_string, claude_env_table = get_claude_command_and_env(cmd_args)
+
+  local provider = get_provider()
+  if provider.create_new_instance then
+    provider.create_new_instance(cmd_string, claude_env_table, effective_config)
+  else
+    -- Fallback: just call open, which may reuse existing terminal
+    provider.open(cmd_string, claude_env_table, effective_config)
+  end
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/lua/claudecode/terminal/native.lua b/lua/claudecode/terminal/native.lua
index 7cd24dd5..c9f0e441 100644
--- a/lua/claudecode/terminal/native.lua
+++ b/lua/claudecode/terminal/native.lua
@@ -435,5 +435,33 @@ function M.is_available()
   return true -- Native provider is always available
 end
 
+---Creates a new terminal instance, ignoring any existing terminals
+---@param cmd_string string
+---@param env_table table
+---@param effective_config table
+function M.create_new_instance(cmd_string, env_table, effective_config)
+  -- Temporarily save the current state
+  local old_bufnr = bufnr
+  local old_winid = winid
+  local old_jobid = jobid
+
+  -- Clear state to force creation of new terminal
+  bufnr = nil
+  winid = nil
+  jobid = nil
+
+  -- Create new terminal
+  local success = open_terminal(cmd_string, env_table, effective_config, true)
+
+  -- If creation failed, restore old state
+  if not success then
+    bufnr = old_bufnr
+    winid = old_winid
+    jobid = old_jobid
+  end
+
+  return success
+end
+
 --- @type ClaudeCodeTerminalProvider
 return M
diff --git a/lua/claudecode/terminal/snacks.lua b/lua/claudecode/terminal/snacks.lua
index 2b4c7c98..1e3ea766 100644
--- a/lua/claudecode/terminal/snacks.lua
+++ b/lua/claudecode/terminal/snacks.lua
@@ -272,5 +272,36 @@ function M._get_terminal_for_test()
   return terminal
 end
 
+---Creates a new terminal instance, ignoring any existing terminals
+---@param cmd_string string
+---@param env_table table
+---@param config table
+function M.create_new_instance(cmd_string, env_table, config)
+  if not is_available() then
+    vim.notify("Snacks.nvim terminal provider selected but Snacks.terminal not available.", vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    return
+  end
+
+  -- Save existing terminal
+  local old_terminal = terminal
+
+  -- Clear terminal state to force creation
+  terminal = nil
+
+  -- Create new terminal (M.open will create a new one since terminal is nil)
+  local opts = build_opts(config, env_table, true)
+  local term_instance = Snacks.terminal.open(cmd_string, opts)
+
+  if term_instance and term_instance:buf_valid() then
+    setup_terminal_events(term_instance, config)
+    -- Don't set terminal = term_instance, keep it nil or use a separate tracking if needed
+    -- This allows the new terminal to exist independently
+  else
+    terminal = old_terminal  -- Restore if creation failed
+    local logger = require("claudecode.logger")
+    logger.error("terminal", "Failed to create new terminal instance")
+  end
+end
+
 ---@type ClaudeCodeTerminalProvider
 return M