diff --git a/WHATS_NEW_DM b/WHATS_NEW_DM
index a41876b2c..afa694453 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW_DM
+++ b/WHATS_NEW_DM
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 1.02.75 - 
 ================================
+  Do not run a new dmeventd instance on restart if there's no existing one.
   Make the time window for reading fifo longer 5sec (1.02.73).
 
 Version 1.02.74 - 6th March 2012
diff --git a/daemons/dmeventd/dmeventd.c b/daemons/dmeventd/dmeventd.c
index 456fa7da7..b61fb8b83 100644
--- a/daemons/dmeventd/dmeventd.c
+++ b/daemons/dmeventd/dmeventd.c
@@ -1829,13 +1829,13 @@ static void restart(void)
 
 	if (!init_fifos(&fifos)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "WARNING: Could not initiate communication with existing dmeventd.\n");
-		return;
+		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 	}
 
 	if (!dm_event_get_version(&fifos, &version)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "WARNING: Could not communicate with existing dmeventd.\n");
 		fini_fifos(&fifos);
-		return;
+		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 	}
 
 	if (version < 1) {