diff --git a/xcp-metrics/src/main.rs b/xcp-metrics/src/main.rs
index beb6452..55a4dce 100644
--- a/xcp-metrics/src/main.rs
+++ b/xcp-metrics/src/main.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ pub mod publishers;
 pub mod rpc;
 
 use dashmap::DashMap;
-use std::sync::Arc;
-use tokio::{select, sync::mpsc, task::JoinHandle};
+use std::{fs, sync::Arc};
+use tokio::{net::UnixStream, select, sync::mpsc, task::JoinHandle};
+use xcp_metrics_common::xapi::XAPI_SOCKET_PATH;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct XcpMetricsShared {
@@ -14,6 +15,36 @@ pub struct XcpMetricsShared {
     pub hub_channel: mpsc::UnboundedSender<hub::HubPushMessage>,
 }
 
+/// Check if the XAPI socket is active and unlink it if it isn't.
+///
+/// Returns true if the socket is active.
+async fn check_unix_socket(daemon_name: &str) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
+    let socket_path = format!("{XAPI_SOCKET_PATH}/{daemon_name}");
+
+    if !tokio::fs::try_exists(&socket_path).await? {
+        // Socket doesn't exist.
+        return Ok(false);
+    }
+
+    match UnixStream::connect(&socket_path).await {
+        Ok(_) => Ok(true),
+        Err(e) => {
+            if matches!(e.kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::ConnectionRefused) {
+                // Unlink socket
+                tracing::warn!(socket = socket_path, "Unlinking inactive XAPI socket");
+                fs::remove_file(&socket_path)?;
+                Ok(false)
+            } else {
+                tracing::error!(
+                    socket = socket_path,
+                    "Unable to check XAPI socket status: {e}"
+                );
+                Err(e.into())
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[tokio::main]
 async fn main() {
     let text_subscriber = tracing_subscriber::fmt()
@@ -24,6 +55,16 @@ async fn main() {
 
     tracing::subscriber::set_global_default(text_subscriber).unwrap();
 
+    if check_unix_socket("xcp-metrics").await.unwrap() {
+        tracing::error!("Unable to start: xcp-metrics socket is active");
+        panic!("Unable to start: is xcp-metrics already running ?");
+    }
+
+    if check_unix_socket("xcp-metrics.forwarded").await.unwrap() {
+        tracing::error!("Unable to start: xcp-metrics.forwarded socket is active");
+        panic!("Unable to start: is xcp-metrics already running ?");
+    }
+
     let (hub, hub_channel) = hub::MetricsHub::default().start().await;
 
     let shared = Arc::new(XcpMetricsShared {