diff --git a/common/utils/system.c b/common/utils/system.c
index d8b66c51d3..38d1c1d7ad 100644
--- a/common/utils/system.c
+++ b/common/utils/system.c
@@ -209,6 +209,10 @@ int background_system(char *command) {
 void start_background_system(void) {
   int p[2];
   pid_t son;
+
+  if (module_initialized == 1)
+    return;
+
   module_initialized = 1;
 
   if (pipe(p) == -1) {
diff --git a/targets/RT/USER/lte-softmodem.c b/targets/RT/USER/lte-softmodem.c
index f9ff03e422..a67b58d61a 100644
--- a/targets/RT/USER/lte-softmodem.c
+++ b/targets/RT/USER/lte-softmodem.c
@@ -525,6 +525,8 @@ int main ( int argc, char **argv )
   int ru_id;
   int node_type = ngran_eNB;
 
+  start_background_system();
+
   if ( load_configmodule(argc,argv,0) == NULL) {
     exit_fun("[SOFTMODEM] Error, configuration module init failed\n");
   }