diff --git a/src/Tgstation.Server.Host/Components/Watchdog/WatchdogBase.cs b/src/Tgstation.Server.Host/Components/Watchdog/WatchdogBase.cs
index e9843b2294..83ed8294c1 100644
--- a/src/Tgstation.Server.Host/Components/Watchdog/WatchdogBase.cs
+++ b/src/Tgstation.Server.Host/Components/Watchdog/WatchdogBase.cs
@@ -360,6 +360,8 @@ namespace Tgstation.Server.Host.Components.Watchdog
 			CancellationToken cancellationToken)
 		{
 			Logger.LogTrace("Begin LaunchImplNoLock");
+			if (startMonitor && Status != WatchdogStatus.Offline)
+				throw new JobException(ErrorCode.WatchdogRunning);
 
 			if (reattachInfo == null && !DmbFactory.DmbAvailable)
 				throw new JobException(ErrorCode.WatchdogCompileJobCorrupted);