diff --git a/browsermobproxy/client.py b/browsermobproxy/client.py
index 8a3dd3b..ac17a2e 100644
--- a/browsermobproxy/client.py
+++ b/browsermobproxy/client.py
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ def __init__(self, url, params=None, options=None):
                 jcontent = json.loads(content)
             except Exception as e:
                 raise Exception("Could not read Browsermob-Proxy json\n"
-                                "Another server running on this port?\n%s..." % content[:512])
+                 "Another server running on this port?\n%s..."%content[:512])
+
             self.port = jcontent['port']
         url_parts = self.host.split(":")
         self.proxy = url_parts[1][2:] + ":" + str(self.port)
diff --git a/browsermobproxy/server.py b/browsermobproxy/server.py
index a61e1a0..dca0e08 100644
--- a/browsermobproxy/server.py
+++ b/browsermobproxy/server.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import socket
 import subprocess
 import time
+import logging
 
 import sys
 
@@ -43,10 +44,10 @@ def create_proxy(self, params=None):
         client = Client(self.url[7:], params)
         return client
 
-    def _is_listening(self):
+    def _is_listening(self, timeout = 1):
         try:
             socket_ = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
-            socket_.settimeout(1)
+            socket_.settimeout(timeout)
             socket_.connect((self.host, self.port))
             socket_.close()
             return True
@@ -113,6 +114,11 @@ def start(self, options=None):
         log_path_name = os.path.join(log_path, log_file)
         self.log_file = open(log_path_name, 'w')
 
+
+        if self._is_listening(.1):
+            logging.info("BrowserMob proxy already running. Won't start again.")
+            return
+       
         if self.win_env:
             self.process = self._start_on_windows()
         else: