A procedure for starting up a fuel cell system that is disconnected from its primary load and that has air in both its cathode and anode flow fields includes a) connecting an auxiliary resistive load across the cell to reduce the cell voltage; b) initiating a recirculation of the anode flow field exhaust through a recycle loop and providing a limited flow of hydrogen fuel into that recirculating exhaust; c) catalytically reacting the added fuel with oxygen present in the recirculating gases until substantially no oxygen remains within the recycle loop; disconnecting the auxiliary load; and then d) providing normal operating flow rates of fuel and air into respective anode and cathode flow fields and connecting the primary load across the cell. The catalytic reaction may take place on the anode or within a catalytic burner disposed within the recycle loop. The procedure allows start-up of the fuel cell system without the use of an inert gas purge while minimizing dissolution of the catalyst and corrosion of the catalyst support during the start-up process.