diff --git a/etc/inc/services.inc b/etc/inc/services.inc
index c49b929e81..d1e8d86c7a 100644
--- a/etc/inc/services.inc
+++ b/etc/inc/services.inc
@@ -1278,7 +1278,8 @@ function services_dnsmasq_configure() {
 	}
 
 	/* kill any running dnsmasq */
-	sigkillbypid("{$g['varrun_path']}/dnsmasq.pid", "TERM");
+	if (file_exists("{$g['varrun_path']}/dnsmasq.pid"))
+		sigkillbypid("{$g['varrun_path']}/dnsmasq.pid", "TERM");
 
 	if (isset($config['dnsmasq']['enable'])) {