diff --git a/backend/redis/redis.go b/backend/redis/redis.go
index 22d64401..433eb755 100644
--- a/backend/redis/redis.go
+++ b/backend/redis/redis.go
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ func NewRedisBackend(client redis.UniversalClient, opts ...RedisBackendOption) (
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("loading Lua scripts: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// Ensure default consumer groups exist to prevent NOGROUP errors during startup
+	if err := rb.ensureDefaultConsumerGroups(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ensuring default consumer groups: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	return rb, nil
 }
 
@@ -149,3 +154,22 @@ func (rb *redisBackend) FeatureSupported(feature backend.Feature) bool {
 
 	return true
 }
+
+// ensureDefaultConsumerGroups creates the consumer groups for the default and system queues
+// to prevent NOGROUP errors when the worker starts and tries to recover abandoned tasks
+func (rb *redisBackend) ensureDefaultConsumerGroups(ctx context.Context) error {
+	// Initialize consumer groups for both default and system queues
+	queues := []workflow.Queue{workflow.QueueDefault, core.QueueSystem}
+
+	// Prepare workflow queue consumer groups
+	if err := rb.workflowQueue.Prepare(ctx, rb.rdb, queues); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("preparing workflow queue consumer groups: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Prepare activity queue consumer groups
+	if err := rb.activityQueue.Prepare(ctx, rb.rdb, queues); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("preparing activity queue consumer groups: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}