diff --git a/api/api.go b/api/api.go
index 688e2f2b..c9647f7b 100644
--- a/api/api.go
+++ b/api/api.go
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ type ServiceInterface interface {
 	// shutdown the service
 	Shutdown()
 
+	// return if the service is running
+	IsRunning() bool
+
 	// add a use case to the service
 	AddUseCase(useCase UseCaseInterface)
 
diff --git a/mocks/ServiceInterface.go b/mocks/ServiceInterface.go
index c2a318b9..868ead26 100644
--- a/mocks/ServiceInterface.go
+++ b/mocks/ServiceInterface.go
@@ -218,6 +218,51 @@ func (_c *ServiceInterface_IsAutoAcceptEnabled_Call) RunAndReturn(run func() boo
 	return _c
 }
 
+// IsRunning provides a mock function with given fields:
+func (_m *ServiceInterface) IsRunning() bool {
+	ret := _m.Called()
+
+	if len(ret) == 0 {
+		panic("no return value specified for IsRunning")
+	}
+
+	var r0 bool
+	if rf, ok := ret.Get(0).(func() bool); ok {
+		r0 = rf()
+	} else {
+		r0 = ret.Get(0).(bool)
+	}
+
+	return r0
+}
+
+// ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call is a *mock.Call that shadows Run/Return methods with type explicit version for method 'IsRunning'
+type ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call struct {
+	*mock.Call
+}
+
+// IsRunning is a helper method to define mock.On call
+func (_e *ServiceInterface_Expecter) IsRunning() *ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call {
+	return &ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call{Call: _e.mock.On("IsRunning")}
+}
+
+func (_c *ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call) Run(run func()) *ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call {
+	_c.Call.Run(func(args mock.Arguments) {
+		run()
+	})
+	return _c
+}
+
+func (_c *ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call) Return(_a0 bool) *ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call {
+	_c.Call.Return(_a0)
+	return _c
+}
+
+func (_c *ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call) RunAndReturn(run func() bool) *ServiceInterface_IsRunning_Call {
+	_c.Call.Return(run)
+	return _c
+}
+
 // LocalDevice provides a mock function with given fields:
 func (_m *ServiceInterface) LocalDevice() spine_goapi.DeviceLocalInterface {
 	ret := _m.Called()
diff --git a/service/service.go b/service/service.go
index a5a571f9..4aa972fb 100644
--- a/service/service.go
+++ b/service/service.go
@@ -42,9 +42,11 @@ type Service struct {
 	// defines wether a user interaction to accept pairing is possible
 	isPairingPossible bool
 
-	startOnce sync.Once
+	// return if the service is running
+	isRunning bool
 
-	mux sync.Mutex
+	mux        sync.Mutex
+	muxRunning sync.Mutex
 }
 
 // creates a new EEBUS service
@@ -153,15 +155,39 @@ func (s *Service) Setup() error {
 
 // Starts the service
 func (s *Service) Start() {
-	s.startOnce.Do(func() {
-		s.connectionsHub.Start()
-	})
+	s.muxRunning.Lock()
+	defer s.muxRunning.Unlock()
+
+	// make sure we do not start twice while the service is already running
+	if s.isRunning {
+		return
+	}
+
+	s.connectionsHub.Start()
 }
 
 // Shutdown all services and stop the server.
 func (s *Service) Shutdown() {
+	s.muxRunning.Lock()
+	defer s.muxRunning.Unlock()
+
+	// if the service is not running, we do not need to shut it down
+	if !s.isRunning {
+		return
+	}
+
 	// Shut down all running connections
 	s.connectionsHub.Shutdown()
+
+	s.isRunning = false
+}
+
+// return if the service is running
+func (s *Service) IsRunning() bool {
+	s.muxRunning.Lock()
+	defer s.muxRunning.Unlock()
+
+	return s.isRunning
 }
 
 // add a use case to the service