diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/sane-scripts/src/sane-vpn b/pkgs/by-name/sane-scripts/src/sane-vpn
index 47200ff94..9de44ba9e 100755
--- a/pkgs/by-name/sane-scripts/src/sane-vpn
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/sane-scripts/src/sane-vpn
@@ -294,6 +294,11 @@ stores = {{ type = "forward", name_servers = [
 '''
     elif dir_ == ToggleDir.Down:
         text = ""
+
+    if not os.path.isdir("/var/lib/hickory-dns"):
+        logger.info("not restarting hickory-dns because it appears to not be in use")
+        return
+
     with open("/var/lib/hickory-dns/dhcp-configs/sane-vpn.toml", "w") as f:
         f.write(text)
     subprocess.check_call([ "systemctl", "restart", "hickory-dns-localhost" ])