A remedial method for starting a fuel cell system is described. The method includes determining if the remedial method is required; providing air to an exhaust of a fuel cell stack; setting a hydrogen flow rate to an anode side of the fuel cell stack; providing a predetermined volume of hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell at the hydrogen flow rate; providing a predetermined volume of air to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack after the predetermined volume of hydrogen has been provided to the anode side while continuing to provide air to the exhaust of the fuel cell stack and hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell stack; determining if a stack voltage is stable after the predetermined volume of air has been provided to the cathode side; and closing the anode outlet valve after the stack voltage is stable.