diff --git a/puppet/files/puppet-check b/puppet/files/puppet-check
index 813b17d..186e790 100755
--- a/puppet/files/puppet-check
+++ b/puppet/files/puppet-check
@@ -41,8 +41,5 @@ end
 # restart
 printf("puppetd dead but pid file exists on host '%s', restarting\n",
        Socket.gethostname)
-begin
-    exec("service puppet start")
-rescue Errno::ENOENT
-    exec(puppetd)
-end
+system("service puppet start")
+system(puppetd) if $?.exitstatus == 127