diff --git a/pylink b/pylink
index 79307e7..0a9f504 100755
--- a/pylink
+++ b/pylink
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Starts an instance of PyLink IRC Services.')
     parser.add_argument('config', help='specifies the path to the config file (defaults to pylink.yml)', nargs='?', default='pylink.yml')
     parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", help="displays the program version and exits", action='store_true')
+    parser.add_argument("-c", "--no-checkpid", help="disables pid file checking, breaks clientbot if used wrongly", action='store_true')
     parser.add_argument("-n", "--no-pid", help="skips generating PID files", action='store_true')
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
@@ -35,6 +36,13 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     from pylinkirc import classes, utils, coremods
     log.info('PyLink %s starting...', __version__)
 
+    # Check for a pid file, unless told not to,
+    # this stops instance overlap, which wrecks clientbots
+    if not args.no_checkpid:
+        config = conf.confname
+        if os.path.exists("%s.pid" % config):
+            log.error("PID file exists!")
+
     # Write a PID file unless specifically told not to.
     if not args.no_pid:
         with open('%s.pid' % conf.confname, 'w') as f: