diff --git a/contrib/init/sysvinit-redhat/docker b/contrib/init/sysvinit-redhat/docker
index 7d056aacad..06699f6ab1 100755
--- a/contrib/init/sysvinit-redhat/docker
+++ b/contrib/init/sysvinit-redhat/docker
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #       /etc/rc.d/init.d/docker
 #
 #       Daemon for docker.io
-#       
+#
 # chkconfig:   2345 95 95
 # description: Daemon for docker.io
 
@@ -49,10 +49,12 @@ start() {
         $exec -d $other_args &>> $logfile &
         pid=$!
         touch $lockfile
-        # wait for the pidfile to exist.  see
+        # wait up to 10 seconds for the pidfile to exist.  see
         # https://github.com/dotcloud/docker/issues/5359
-        while [ ! -f $pidfile ]; do
+        tries=0
+        while [ ! -f $pidfile -a $tries -lt 10 ]; do
             sleep 1
+            tries=$((tries + 1))
         done
         success
         echo