diff --git a/debian/ngcp-panel.init b/debian/ngcp-panel.init
index 4891fc8f16..67966dd3c6 100644
--- a/debian/ngcp-panel.init
+++ b/debian/ngcp-panel.init
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ check_for_ongoing_startup() {
 }
 
 _start() {
+  if [ "$RUN_DAEMON" != "yes" ]; then
+    log_failure_msg "$NAME not yet configured. Edit /etc/default/$NAME first."
+    log_end_msg 0
+    exit 0
+  fi
   rm -f $PIDFILE 2>/dev/null
   check_for_ongoing_startup || return 0
   start-stop-daemon --start --quiet \
@@ -117,12 +122,6 @@ fi
 
 OPTIONS="--listen $USOCKET --daemon --pidfile $PIDFILE --nproc $NPROC"
 
-if [ "$RUN_DAEMON" != "yes" ]; then
-    log_failure_msg "$NAME not yet configured. Edit /etc/default/$NAME first."
-    log_end_msg 0
-    exit 0
-fi
-
 # $HOMERUN perms
 mkdir -p $HOMERUN && chown -R $USER:$GROUP $HOMERUN