diff --git a/roles/mako/handlers/main.yml b/roles/mako/handlers/main.yml
index e407f92..04bb26b 100644
--- a/roles/mako/handlers/main.yml
+++ b/roles/mako/handlers/main.yml
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 - name: reload mako
   shell: makoctl reload
-  when: ansible_virtualization_role == "host"
+  when: ansible_virtualization_role == "host" and mako_running is succeeded
diff --git a/roles/mako/tasks/main.yml b/roles/mako/tasks/main.yml
index 886d08f..a5ef40e 100644
--- a/roles/mako/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/mako/tasks/main.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
     path: ~/.config/mako/
     state: directory
 
+- shell: pgrep mako
+  register: mako_running
+  ignore_errors: True
+
 - name: template mako config file
   template:
     src: config.j2