diff --git a/lib/GTSRSSApi.pm b/lib/GTSRSSApi.pm
index eb65445..b9ba7f8 100644
--- a/lib/GTSRSSApi.pm
+++ b/lib/GTSRSSApi.pm
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ sub startup ($self) {
     my $gts_bot_pid = path('last_pid_started_gts_bot');
     if (-f $pidfile) {
         my $pidfile_content = $pidfile->slurp;
-        if ($pidfile_content eq $gts_bot_pid->slurp) {
+        if (-f $gts_bot_pid && $pidfile_content eq $gts_bot_pid->slurp) {
             return;
         }
         $gts_bot_pid->spew($pidfile_content);