diff --git a/sh/runscript.sh.in b/sh/runscript.sh.in
index fe30a03..fcadd17 100644
--- a/sh/runscript.sh.in
+++ b/sh/runscript.sh.in
@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ start()
 		service_inactive && _inactive=true
 		mark_service_inactive
 	fi
+	if [ -n "$pidfile" ] && \
+		! start-stop-daemon --test --quiet --stop --pidfile "$pidfile"; then
+		rm -f ${pidfile}
+	fi
 	eval start-stop-daemon --start \
 		--exec $command \
 		${procname:+--name} $procname \