Tissue regeneration and functional restoration after injury are considered as stem- and progenitor-cell-driven processes. In the central nervous system, stem cell-driven repair is slow and problematic because function needs to be restored rapidly for vital tasks. In highly regenerative vertebrates, such as zebrafish, functional recovery is rapid, suggesting a capability for fast cell production and functional integration. Surprisingly, we found that migration of dormant "precursor neurons" to the injury site pioneers functional circuit regeneration after spinal cord injury and controls the subsequent stem-cell-driven repair response. Thus, the precursor neurons make do before the stem cells make new. Furthermore, RNA released from the dying or damaged cells at the site of injury acts as a signal to attract precursor neurons for repair. Taken together, our data demonstrate an unanticipated role of neuronal migration and RNA as drivers of neural repair. [Display omitted] • Dormant precursor neurons are awakened after injury and migrate to the lesion • Recruited precursor neurons form the initial functional circuitry in spinal cord repair • Cell recruitment shapes/control the range of the neural stem and progenitor cell response • RNA released from damaged cells act as the signal to initiate repair after injury Vandestadt et al. demonstrate that the zebrafish make do by recruiting existing neurons to rapidly repair circuits to buy time to make new neurons from stem and progenitor cells after spinal cord injury. RNA released from the damaged cells acts as the signal to drive repair after injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]