diff --git a/mailnag b/mailnag
index d2679db..ca74813 100755
--- a/mailnag
+++ b/mailnag
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@ mkdir --parents "$config_dir"
 
 if [ -f "$config_dir/mailnag.pid" ]; then
 	pid=$(cat "$config_dir/mailnag.pid")
-	kill $pid 2> /dev/null
-	# wait until mailnag teminates and removes it's pid file
-	while ps -p $pid > /dev/null; do
-		sleep 1
-	done
+	if [ "`ps -p $pid -o comm=`" == "mailnag" ]; then
+		kill $pid 2> /dev/null
+		# wait until mailnag teminates and removes it's pid file
+		while ps -p $pid > /dev/null; do
+			sleep 1
+		done
+	fi
 fi
 
 rm --force "$config_dir/mailnag.log"