diff --git a/kaievolve/cli.py b/kaievolve/cli.py
index 4b77eed..4c3af53 100644
--- a/kaievolve/cli.py
+++ b/kaievolve/cli.py
@@ -85,6 +85,17 @@ def parse_args() -> argparse.Namespace:
         default=None,
     )
 
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--init-from",
+        default=None,
+        help=(
+            "Seed a fresh run from a previous run's best program. Pass a run "
+            "directory (e.g. bench_results/<run>/run_0); its best program replaces "
+            "the initial program, so you can pass just the evaluator: "
+            "`kai run --init-from <run_dir> evaluator.py -c config.yaml`."
+        ),
+    )
+
     parser.add_argument("--api-base", help="Base URL for the LLM API", default=None)
 
     parser.add_argument("--primary-model", help="Primary LLM model name", default=None)
@@ -94,6 +105,30 @@ def parse_args() -> argparse.Namespace:
     return parser.parse_args()
 
 
+def _resolve_best_program(run_dir):
+    """For --init-from: locate a previous run's best evolved program (.py).
+
+    Looks for ``<run_dir>/best/best_program.py`` first, then the latest
+    ``<run_dir>/checkpoints/checkpoint_*/best_program.py``. Returns the path as a
+    string, or None if no best program is found.
+    """
+    import glob
+    import re
+
+    candidates = [os.path.join(run_dir, "best", "best_program.py")]
+    ckpts = glob.glob(os.path.join(run_dir, "checkpoints", "checkpoint_*"))
+    if ckpts:
+        def _ckpt_num(p):
+            m = re.search(r"checkpoint_(\d+)$", p.rstrip("/"))
+            return int(m.group(1)) if m else -1
+
+        candidates.append(os.path.join(max(ckpts, key=_ckpt_num), "best_program.py"))
+    for c in candidates:
+        if os.path.isfile(c):
+            return c
+    return None
+
+
 async def main_async() -> int:
     """
     Main asynchronous entry point
@@ -157,6 +192,22 @@ async def main_async() -> int:
             print(f"Error: Evaluation file '{args.evaluation_file}' not found")
             return 1
     else:
+        # --init-from: seed a fresh run from a previous run's best program (issue #28).
+        if getattr(args, "init_from", None):
+            best = _resolve_best_program(args.init_from)
+            if best is None:
+                print(
+                    f"Error: no best program found under '{args.init_from}' "
+                    "(looked for best/best_program.py and checkpoints/*/best_program.py)"
+                )
+                return 1
+            # Convenience: `--init-from <run_dir> evaluator.py` -- with only one
+            # positional given it is the evaluator, since the seed comes from --init-from.
+            if not args.evaluation_file and args.initial_program:
+                args.evaluation_file = args.initial_program
+            args.initial_program = best
+            print(f"Seeding initial program from {args.init_from}: {best}")
+
         # Single-file mode validation
         if not args.initial_program:
             print("Error: Either provide initial_program or use --directory for multi-file mode")
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_init_from.py b/tests/test_cli_init_from.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdaf5fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_cli_init_from.py
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+"""Tests for `--init-from` (issue #28): seed a run from a previous run's best
+program. Covers the resolver (best/ dir, checkpoint fallback, absent) and the
+argument wiring."""
+
+import os
+import unittest
+from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
+
+from kaievolve.cli import _resolve_best_program, parse_args
+
+
+def _write(path, text="x = 1\n"):
+    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), exist_ok=True)
+    with open(path, "w") as f:
+        f.write(text)
+
+
+class TestResolveBestProgram(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_prefers_best_dir(self):
+        with TemporaryDirectory() as d:
+            _write(os.path.join(d, "best", "best_program.py"))
+            _write(os.path.join(d, "checkpoints", "checkpoint_10", "best_program.py"))
+            self.assertEqual(
+                _resolve_best_program(d), os.path.join(d, "best", "best_program.py")
+            )
+
+    def test_falls_back_to_latest_checkpoint(self):
+        with TemporaryDirectory() as d:
+            _write(os.path.join(d, "checkpoints", "checkpoint_10", "best_program.py"))
+            _write(os.path.join(d, "checkpoints", "checkpoint_40", "best_program.py"))
+            _write(os.path.join(d, "checkpoints", "checkpoint_30", "best_program.py"))
+            # latest checkpoint by numeric suffix, not lexicographic
+            self.assertEqual(
+                _resolve_best_program(d),
+                os.path.join(d, "checkpoints", "checkpoint_40", "best_program.py"),
+            )
+
+    def test_returns_none_when_absent(self):
+        with TemporaryDirectory() as d:
+            self.assertIsNone(_resolve_best_program(d))
+
+
+class TestInitFromArg(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_flag_parses(self):
+        import sys
+
+        argv = sys.argv
+        try:
+            sys.argv = ["kai", "--init-from", "some/run_0", "evaluator.py", "-c", "cfg.yaml"]
+            args = parse_args()
+            self.assertEqual(args.init_from, "some/run_0")
+            # with one positional + --init-from, it lands in initial_program (shifted later)
+            self.assertEqual(args.initial_program, "evaluator.py")
+        finally:
+            sys.argv = argv
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()