diff --git a/lib/vpn.sh b/lib/vpn.sh
index 0ecc926..c39efa9 100755
--- a/lib/vpn.sh
+++ b/lib/vpn.sh
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ connect() {
 #
 #####################################
 
+# start xl2tpd if not
+"${BASEDIR}/sudo.sh" "${BASEDIR}/xl2tpd.sh" trystart
+
 case "$1" in
 
     -d)
diff --git a/lib/xl2tpd.sh b/lib/xl2tpd.sh
index 08c19a9..ea8163c 100755
--- a/lib/xl2tpd.sh
+++ b/lib/xl2tpd.sh
@@ -58,13 +58,6 @@ xl2tpd_start() {
     type systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1 && {
         systemctl xl2tpd start
     }
-}
-
-xl2tpd_restart() {
-
-    xl2tpd_stop
-    rm -f ${XL2TPD_CONTROL_FILE}
-    xl2tpd_start
 
     # wait until ready
     for i in $(seq 0 10); do
@@ -79,6 +72,20 @@ xl2tpd_restart() {
     exit 1
 }
 
+xl2tpd_trystart() {
+    if [ -e ${XL2TPD_CONTROL_FILE} ]; then
+        echo "[INFO] xl2tpd ready."
+    else
+        xl2tpd_start
+    fi
+}
+
+xl2tpd_restart() {
+    xl2tpd_stop
+    rm -f ${XL2TPD_CONTROL_FILE}
+    xl2tpd_start
+}
+
 xl2tpd_create_lac() {
     #touch $PPP_LOG_FILE
 
@@ -164,6 +171,11 @@ case $1 in
         xl2tpd_restart
         ;;
 
+    trystart)
+        # will start unless already started
+        xl2tpd_trystart
+        ;;
+
     adduser)
         xl2tpd_create_lac
         ;;