diff --git a/run_server.py b/run_server.py
index fecfe40dd..234dffa30 100644
--- a/run_server.py
+++ b/run_server.py
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ def start_beat():
     os.environ.setdefault('PYTHONOPTIMIZE', '1')
     os.environ.setdefault('C_FORCE_ROOT', '1')
     pidfile = '/tmp/beat.pid '
+    if os.path.exists(pidfile):
+        os.unlink(pidfile)
     scheduler = "django_celery_beat.schedulers:DatabaseScheduler"
     options = "--pidfile {}  -l {} --scheduler {} --max-interval 60".format(
         pidfile, LOG_LEVEL, scheduler,