diff --git a/root/etc/service/rsyslog/run b/root/etc/service/rsyslog/run
index c2cfea7..9e9f8d9 100644
--- a/root/etc/service/rsyslog/run
+++ b/root/etc/service/rsyslog/run
@@ -3,4 +3,9 @@
 chgrp syslog /var/logs
 chmod g+w /var/logs
 
+# for some reason the pidfile was sticking around and preventing startup
+RP="$(cat /run/rsyslogd.pid)"
+kill $RP
+rm /run/rsyslogd.pid
+
 exec rsyslogd -n