diff --git a/playbooks/groups/buildvm.yml b/playbooks/groups/buildvm.yml
index cf6db7997e..0222f61859 100644
--- a/playbooks/groups/buildvm.yml
+++ b/playbooks/groups/buildvm.yml
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@
   - include: "{{ tasks }}/yumrepos.yml"
   - include: "{{ tasks }}/koji/builder_kernel_config.yml"
 
-  - name: restart kojid
-    action: service name=kojid state=restarted
+  - name: make sure kojid is running
+    action: service name=kojid state=running
 
   handlers:
   - include: "{{ handlers }}/restart_services.yml"