diff --git a/init/ubuntu b/init/ubuntu
index ece63b09a963a741ef1520b887c2e0decca3e748..4b18bb74af46b2a14c22d3869680f1a5af2ba475 100644
--- a/init/ubuntu
+++ b/init/ubuntu
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ DAEMON=/usr/bin/python
 
 # Path to store PID file
 PID_FILE=/var/run/couchpotato.pid
+PID_PATH=$(dirname $PID_FILE)
 
 # script name
 NAME=couchpotato
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ set -e
 case "$1" in
   start)
         echo "Starting $DESC"
+        rm -rf $PID_FILE || return 1
+        install -d --mode=0755 -o $RUN_AS $PID_PATH || return 1
         start-stop-daemon -d $APP_PATH -c $RUN_AS --start --background --pidfile $PID_FILE --exec $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_OPTS
         ;;
   stop)