diff --git a/test/runtests.py b/test/runtests.py
index 5bc0700..0532c01 100755
--- a/test/runtests.py
+++ b/test/runtests.py
@@ -1,53 +1,57 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python
 
 import os
 import re
 import shutil
 import sys
 import tempfile
 import time
 import unittest
 
 from clienttests import ClientConfigTests
 from sitetests   import SiteConfigTests
 from arbtests    import ArbitratorConfigTests
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     if os.geteuid() == 0:
         sys.stderr.write("Must be run non-root; aborting.\n")
         sys.exit(1)
 
     tmp_path            = '/tmp/booth-tests'
     if not os.path.exists(tmp_path):
         os.makedirs(tmp_path)
     test_run_path       = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='%d.' % time.time(), dir=tmp_path)
 
     suite = unittest.TestSuite()
     testclasses = [
         SiteConfigTests,
         #ArbitratorConfigTests,
         ClientConfigTests,
     ]
     for testclass in testclasses:
         testclass.test_run_path = test_run_path
         suite.addTests(unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromTestCase(testclass))
 
     runner_args = {
         #'verbosity' : 2,
     }
     major, minor, micro, releaselevel, serial = sys.version_info
     if major > 2 or (major == 2 and minor >= 7):
         # New in 2.7
         runner_args['buffer'] = True
         runner_args['failfast'] = True
         pass
 
+    # not root anymore, so safe
+    # needed because old instances might still use the UDP port.
+    os.system("killall boothd")
+
     runner = unittest.TextTestRunner(**runner_args)
     result = runner.run(suite)
 
     if result.wasSuccessful():
         shutil.rmtree(test_run_path)
         sys.exit(0)
     else:
         print "Left %s for debugging" % test_run_path
         sys.exit(1)