diff --git a/party b/party
index 8ecaa03..7542704 100755
--- a/party
+++ b/party
@@ -807,13 +807,9 @@ EOF
         echo "party: $party_dir exists and is not a directory you own" >&2
         exit 1
     fi
-    if [ -d "$party_dir" ] && [ -f "$rec" ]; then
-        roster_read "$rec" 2>/dev/null || true
-        if [ -n "${RR_SOCKET:-}" ] \
-           && [ "$(party_conn_state "$RR_SOCKET")" != dead ]; then
-            echo "party: '$name' is already running" >&2
-            exit 1
-        fi
+    if [ -f "$rec" ] && [ "$(party_conn_state "$sock")" != dead ]; then
+        echo "party: '$name' is already running" >&2
+        exit 1
     fi
 
     # mkdir is the atomic acquisition primitive. POSIX mkdir(2) on an