diff --git a/ejabberdctl.template b/ejabberdctl.template
index 972afe0bc..cec891a79 100755
--- a/ejabberdctl.template
+++ b/ejabberdctl.template
@@ -312,7 +312,17 @@ stop_epmd()
 # if all ok, ensure runtime directory exists and make it current directory
 check_start()
 {
-    [ -n "$ERL_DIST_PORT" ] && return
+    [ -n "$ERL_DIST_PORT" ] && {
+        netstat -nl | grep ":5210" >/dev/null && {
+            echo "Error: The file ejabberdctl.cfg has configured ERL_DIST_PORT=$ERL_DIST_PORT"
+            echo "       but the port 5210 is already in use."
+            echo "       Stop that program or configure a different ERL_DIST_PORT"
+            echo ""
+            netstat -nlp | grep ":5210"
+            echo ""
+        }
+        return
+    }
     "$EPMD" -names 2>/dev/null | grep -q " ${ERLANG_NODE%@*} " && {
         pgrep -f "$ERLANG_NODE" >/dev/null && {
             echo "ERROR: The ejabberd node '$ERLANG_NODE' is already running."