diff --git a/template b/template
index 57d3154..9dedf0d 100755
--- a/template
+++ b/template
@@ -35,10 +35,12 @@ case "$1" in
         cd "$dir"
         if [ -z "$user" ]; then
             sudo $cmd >> "$stdout_log" 2>> "$stderr_log" &
+            echo $! > "$pid_file"
         else
             sudo -u "$user" $cmd >> "$stdout_log" 2>> "$stderr_log" &
+            sleep 1 # process not always started fast enough
+            echo $(pgrep -U "$user" -xf "$cmd") > "$pid_file"
         fi
-        echo $! > "$pid_file"
         if ! is_running; then
             echo "Unable to start, see $stdout_log and $stderr_log"
             exit 1