diff --git a/src/commands/actors/push.ts b/src/commands/actors/push.ts
index 5b6683714..591123739 100644
--- a/src/commands/actors/push.ts
+++ b/src/commands/actors/push.ts
@@ -315,6 +315,12 @@ Skipping push. Use --force to override.`,
 			run({ message: `Created version ${version} for Actor ${actor.name}.` });
 		}
 
+		// Enable standby mode on existing actors if configured in actor.json
+		if (!isActorCreatedNow && actorConfig!.usesStandbyMode && !actor.actorStandby?.isEnabled) {
+			await actorClient.update({ actorStandby: { isEnabled: true } });
+			info({ message: `Enabled standby mode for Actor ${actor.name}.` });
+		}
+
 		// Build Actor on Apify and wait for build to finish
 		run({ message: `Building Actor ${actor.name}` });
 		let build = await actorClient.build(version, {
diff --git a/test/api/commands/push.test.ts b/test/api/commands/push.test.ts
index 1fca6f3ad..35f65ba3a 100644
--- a/test/api/commands/push.test.ts
+++ b/test/api/commands/push.test.ts
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ describe('[api] apify push', () => {
 	);
 
 	it(
-		'should not enable standby mode on existing actor when usesStandbyMode is true in actor.json',
+		'should enable standby mode on existing actor when usesStandbyMode is true in actor.json',
 		async () => {
 			// Create an actor without standby mode first
 			const testActorWithTitleDesc = {
@@ -422,12 +422,12 @@ describe('[api] apify push', () => {
 			const initialActor = await testActorClient.get();
 			expect(initialActor?.actorStandby?.isEnabled).to.not.be.eql(true);
 
-			// Enable standby
+			// Enable standby in actor.json
 			const actorJson = JSON.parse(readFileSync(joinPath(LOCAL_CONFIG_PATH), 'utf8'));
 			actorJson.usesStandbyMode = true;
 			writeFileSync(joinPath(LOCAL_CONFIG_PATH), JSON.stringify(actorJson, null, '\t'), { flag: 'w' });
 
-			// Push to existing actor - this should update standby mode
+			// Push to existing actor - this should enable standby mode
 			await testRunCommand(ActorsPushCommand, {
 				args_actorId: testActor.id,
 				flags_noPrompt: true,
@@ -436,8 +436,8 @@ describe('[api] apify push', () => {
 
 			const updatedActor = await testActorClient.get();
 
-			// Verify standby is not enabled after push
-			expect(updatedActor?.actorStandby?.isEnabled).to.not.be.eql(true);
+			// Verify standby is enabled after push
+			expect(updatedActor?.actorStandby?.isEnabled).to.be.eql(true);
 			if (updatedActor) await testActorClient.delete();
 		},
 		TEST_TIMEOUT,