diff --git a/source/hunchentoot/acceptor.lisp b/source/hunchentoot/acceptor.lisp
index 5858d9d..44b7559 100644
--- a/source/hunchentoot/acceptor.lisp
+++ b/source/hunchentoot/acceptor.lisp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ process different from the one where START was called.")
                   :accessor acceptor-listen-socket
                   :documentation "The socket listening for incoming
 connections.")
-   (acceptor-shutdown-p :initform nil
+   (acceptor-shutdown-p :initform t
                         :accessor acceptor-shutdown-p
                         :documentation "A flag that makes the acceptor
 shutdown itself when set to something other than NIL.")
@@ -245,6 +245,7 @@ they're using secure connections - see the SSL-ACCEPTOR class."))
 ;; general implementation
 
 (defmethod start ((acceptor acceptor))
+  (setf (acceptor-shutdown-p acceptor) nil)
   (start-listening acceptor)
   (let ((taskmaster (acceptor-taskmaster acceptor)))
     (setf (taskmaster-acceptor taskmaster) acceptor)