diff --git a/init/pystatsd.init b/init/pystatsd.init
index 19fd4af..bb9d4a5 100755
--- a/init/pystatsd.init
+++ b/init/pystatsd.init
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #
 # pystatsd      This shell script takes care of starting and stopping pystatsd.
 #
-# chkconfig: 2345 80 30
+# chkconfig: - 80 30
 # description: Pystatsd is a front end/proxy for the Graphite stats collection and graphing server.
 #              
 # processname: pystatsd
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
 # Provides: pystatsd
 # Required-Start: $local_fs $network
 # Required-Stop: $local_fs $network
-# Default-Start: 2 3 4 5
-# Default-Stop: 0 1 6
 # Short-Description: start and stop pystatsd
 # Description: Pystatsd is a front end/proxy for the Graphite stats collection and graphing server.
 ### END INIT INFO
@@ -50,7 +48,8 @@ start() {
     # Start daemons.
     ret=0
     echo -n $"Starting $prog: "
-    daemon /usr/bin/pystatsd-server --port $LOCAL_PYSTATD_PORT --pct $PCT --flush-interval $FLUSH_INTERVAL --counters-prefix $COUNTERS_PREFIX --timers-prefix $TIMERS_PREFIX --graphite-host $GRAPHITE_HOST --graphite-port $GRAPHITE_PORT --daemon --pidfile $PIDFILE
+    install -o $USER /dev/null $PIDFILE
+    daemon --user $USER /usr/bin/pystatsd-server --port $LOCAL_PYSTATD_PORT --pct $PCT --flush-interval $FLUSH_INTERVAL --counters-prefix $COUNTERS_PREFIX --timers-prefix $TIMERS_PREFIX --graphite-host $GRAPHITE_HOST --graphite-port $GRAPHITE_PORT --daemon --pidfile $PIDFILE
     RETVAL=$?
     echo
     [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && touch /var/lock/subsys/pystatsd
diff --git a/pystatsd/daemon.py b/pystatsd/daemon.py
index 0b5156e..64bd34f 100644
--- a/pystatsd/daemon.py
+++ b/pystatsd/daemon.py
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@ def start(self, *args, **kw):
         pid = None
         if os.path.exists(self.pidfile):
             with open(self.pidfile, 'r') as fp:
-                pid = int(fp.read().strip())
+                try:
+                    pid = int(fp.read().strip())
+                except ValueError:
+                    pass
 
         if pid:
             msg = 'pidfile (%s) exists. Daemon already running?\n'