diff --git a/contrib/init/sysvinit-redhat/docker b/contrib/init/sysvinit-redhat/docker
index 1994d6b31e..d51e2f8ba1 100755
--- a/contrib/init/sysvinit-redhat/docker
+++ b/contrib/init/sysvinit-redhat/docker
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ prestart() {
 start() {
     [ -x $exec ] || exit 5
 
+    check_for_cleanup
+
     if ! [ -f $pidfile ]; then
         prestart
         printf "Starting $prog:\t"
@@ -97,6 +99,13 @@ rh_status_q() {
     rh_status >/dev/null 2>&1
 }
 
+
+check_for_cleanup() {
+    if [ -f ${pidfile} ]; then
+        /bin/ps -fp $(cat ${pidfile}) > /dev/null || rm ${pidfile}
+    fi
+}
+
 case "$1" in
     start)
         rh_status_q && exit 0