diff --git a/auto b/auto
index c8db2e0..f0bfeab 100755
--- a/auto
+++ b/auto
@@ -7,7 +7,16 @@ EMODS="MIME::Base64 XML::Simple"
 
 if [ "$1" = "start" ] ; then
 	if [ -e $PID ]; then
-		echo "Auto appears to be running already."
+		if [ "$2" = "force" ]; then    
+		    echo "Starting Auto. . ."
+		    bin/auto
+		    sleep 2
+		    if [ ! -r $PID ]; then
+		    	echo "Possible failed startup... check Auto logs for more information."
+		    fi
+        else
+            echo "Auto appears to be running already. Run ./auto start force to start anyway."
+        fi
 	else
 		echo "Starting Auto. . ."
 		bin/auto