diff --git a/files/autopause/autopause-daemon.sh b/files/autopause/autopause-daemon.sh
index 5c49cce5..e2f48608 100644
--- a/files/autopause/autopause-daemon.sh
+++ b/files/autopause/autopause-daemon.sh
@@ -15,17 +15,35 @@ autopause_error_loop() {
   logAutopause "Autopause failed to initialize. This log entry will be printed every 30 minutes."
   while :
   do
-    if [[ -n $(ps -ax -o comm | grep java) ]] ; then
-      break
-    fi
-    sleep 0.1
+    sleep 1800
+    logAutopause "Autopause failed to initialize."
   done
+}
+
+# wait for java process to be started
+while :
+do
+  if java_process_exists ; then
+    break
+  fi
+  sleep 0.1
+done
+
+# check for interface existence
+if [[ -z "$AUTOPAUSE_KNOCK_INTERFACE" ]] ; then
+  logAutopause "AUTOPAUSE_KNOCK_INTERFACE variable must not be empty!"
+  autopause_error_loop
+fi
+if ! [[ -d "/sys/class/net/$AUTOPAUSE_KNOCK_INTERFACE" ]] ; then
+  logAutopause "Selected interface \"$AUTOPAUSE_KNOCK_INTERFACE\" does not exist!"
+  autopause_error_loop
+fi
+
+sudo /usr/sbin/knockd -c /tmp/knockd-config.cfg -d -i "$AUTOPAUSE_KNOCK_INTERFACE"
+if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then
   logAutopause "Failed to start knockd daemon."
-  logAutopause "Possible cause: docker's host network mode."
-  logAutopause "Recreate without host mode or disable autopause functionality."
-  logAutopause "Stopping server."
-  pkill -SIGTERM java
-  exit 1
+  logAutopause "Probable cause: Unable to attach to interface \"$AUTOPAUSE_KNOCK_INTERFACE\"."
+  autopause_error_loop
 fi
 
 STATE=INIT
diff --git a/files/autopause/autopause-fcns.sh b/files/autopause/autopause-fcns.sh
index 69b7f9e4..69eb9d08 100644
--- a/files/autopause/autopause-fcns.sh
+++ b/files/autopause/autopause-fcns.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ java_running() {
 }
 
 java_process_exists() {
-  [[ -n "$(ps -a -o comm | grep 'java')" ]]
+  [[ -n "$(ps -ax -o comm | grep 'java')" ]]
 }
 
 rcon_client_exists() {