A method of starting an engine is provided. The engine includes a cylinder and a fuel injector configured to directly inject fuel into the cylinder. The method includes: at an engine start condition, receiving a sensed engine position, in response to the sensed engine position correlating with a stored engine stop position, injecting fuel directly into the cylinder at a next suitable engine position for a first combustion cycle, and in response to the sensed engine position not correlating with the stored engine stop position, rotating a shaft of the engine an angular distance without injecting fuel directly into the cylinder until the sensed engine position correlates with another parameter, and thereupon, injecting fuel directly into the cylinder at a next suitable engine position for a first combustion cycle.