diff --git a/templates/default/sysvinit.service.erb b/templates/default/sysvinit.service.erb
index 5b3ddf32..c55c6fac 100755
--- a/templates/default/sysvinit.service.erb
+++ b/templates/default/sysvinit.service.erb
@@ -30,24 +30,27 @@ export PATH="${PATH:+$PATH:}/usr/sbin:/sbin"
 . /lib/lsb/init-functions
 
 _start() {
-  touch $logfile
-  chown $user $logfile
-  start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --background \
-      --pidfile $pidfile<% unless @pid_file_external %> --make-pidfile<% end %> \
-      --chuid $user --chdir "<%= @directory %>" \
-      --startas /bin/bash -- -c "exec $exec <%= @daemon_options %> >> $logfile 2>&1"
+    touch $logfile
+    chown $user $logfile
+    echo "Starting consul"
+    start-stop-daemon --start --quiet --background \
+        --pidfile $pidfile<% unless @pid_file_external %> --make-pidfile<% end %> \
+        --chuid $user --chdir "<%= @directory %>" \
+        --startas /bin/bash -- -c "exec $exec <%= @daemon_options %> >> $logfile 2>&1"
+
+    _wait_for_listening
 }
 
 _stop() {
-  start-stop-daemon --stop --quiet --pidfile $pidfile --user $user --retry="<%= @stop_signal %>"/30/KILL/5
+    start-stop-daemon --stop --quiet --pidfile $pidfile --user $user --retry="<%= @stop_signal %>"/30/KILL/5
 }
 
 _status() {
-  status_of_proc -p $pidfile $exec $prog
+    status_of_proc -p $pidfile $exec $prog
 }
 
 _reload() {
-  start-stop-daemon --stop --quiet --pidfile $pidfile --user $user --signal "<%= @reload_signal %>"
+    start-stop-daemon --stop --quiet --pidfile $pidfile --user $user --signal "<%= @reload_signal %>"
 }
 
 <%- else -%>
@@ -62,9 +65,9 @@ _start() {
 
     echo -n $"Starting <%= @name %>: "
     daemon \
-         --pidfile=$pidfile \
-         --user=$user \
-         " { $exec <%= @daemon_options %> >> $logfile 2>&1 & } ; echo \$! >| $pidfile "
+        --pidfile=$pidfile \
+        --user=$user \
+        " { $exec <%= @daemon_options %> >> $logfile 2>&1 & } ; echo \$! >| $pidfile "
      RETVAL=$?
      echo
      [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && touch $lockfile
@@ -106,6 +109,25 @@ _status_q() {
     _status >/dev/null 2>&1
 }
 
+_wait_for_listening() {
+    echo -n "Waiting for consul daemon to be listening..."
+    for i in `seq 1 30`; do
+        sleep 1
+        # if ! start-stop-daemon --quiet --stop --test --pidfile $pidfile --user $user; then
+        if ! _status_q; then
+            echo " FAIL: consul process died"
+            return 2
+        fi
+        if "$exec" info >/dev/null; then
+            echo " OK"
+            return 0
+        fi
+        echo -n .
+    done
+    echo " FAIL: consul process is alive, but is not listening."
+    return 2
+}
+
 case "$1" in
     start)
         _status_q && exit 0