diff --git a/contrib/init/sysvinit-debian/docker b/contrib/init/sysvinit-debian/docker
index 4f9d38dda5..9c8fa6be73 100755
--- a/contrib/init/sysvinit-debian/docker
+++ b/contrib/init/sysvinit-debian/docker
@@ -119,9 +119,13 @@ case "$1" in
 	stop)
 		check_init
 		fail_unless_root
-		log_begin_msg "Stopping $DOCKER_DESC: $BASE"
-		start-stop-daemon --stop --pidfile "$DOCKER_SSD_PIDFILE" --retry 10
-		log_end_msg $?
+		if [ -f "$DOCKER_SSD_PIDFILE" ]; then
+			log_begin_msg "Stopping $DOCKER_DESC: $BASE"
+			start-stop-daemon --stop --pidfile "$DOCKER_SSD_PIDFILE" --retry 10
+			log_end_msg $?
+		else
+			log_warning_msg "Docker already stopped - file $DOCKER_SSD_PIDFILE not found."
+		fi
 		;;
 
 	restart)