diff --git a/src/controller/controller_streams.cpp b/src/controller/controller_streams.cpp
index 6e699aed..19e50a80 100644
--- a/src/controller/controller_streams.cpp
+++ b/src/controller/controller_streams.cpp
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ namespace Controller{
       if (program){inputProcesses[name] = program;}
     }
     // new style always on
-    if (data.isMember("always_on") && data["always_on"].asBool()){
+    if (data.isMember("always_on") && data["always_on"].asBool() &&
+        (!inputProcesses.count(name) || !Util::Procs::isRunning(inputProcesses[name]))){
       INFO_MSG("Starting always-on input %s: %s", name.c_str(), URL.c_str());
       std::map<std::string, std::string> empty_overrides;
       pid_t program = 0;