diff --git a/launch.sh b/launch.sh
index 77edb2a..85e911e 100755
--- a/launch.sh
+++ b/launch.sh
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ else
 	chmod 600 ${VMS}/${1}.txt
 fi
 
+if vmctl show ${1} | grep running >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	echo "ERR: VM ${1} is already running..."
+	exit 1
+fi      
+
 INSTANCE=$(awk -F'=' '/^instance/ {print $2}' ${VMS}/${1}.txt | tr -d '"')
 if [[ -z ${INSTANCE} ]]; then
 	INSTANCE=${1}