diff --git a/userspace/falco/app/restart_handler.cpp b/userspace/falco/app/restart_handler.cpp
index fe1e0d86..0647b5b0 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app/restart_handler.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app/restart_handler.cpp
@@ -158,7 +158,6 @@ void falco::app::restart_handler::watcher_loop() noexcept
             // at least we don't make users wait for the timeout.
             if (should_restart)
             {
-                should_restart = false;
                 // todo(jasondellaluce): make this a callback too maybe?
                 g_restart_signal.trigger();
                 return;