# Kea DHCP Server not running

[https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/14977](https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/14977)

If for some reason the Kea control socket lock file is present while Kea is stopped, then Kea can never start until that file is removed.

Attempting to start Kea while /tmp/kea4-ctrl-socket.lock exists, even if Kea is not currently running, results in a fatal error preventing Kea from running:

Removing the socket file allows Kea to start (rm /tmp/kea4-ctrl-socket.lock).