diff --git a/internal/portforward/interfaces.go b/internal/portforward/interfaces.go
index 45191f7e..148eb567 100644
--- a/internal/portforward/interfaces.go
+++ b/internal/portforward/interfaces.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ type Logger interface {
 	Info(s string)
 	Warn(s string)
 	Error(s string)
+	Errorf(format string, args ...any)
 }
 
 type Cmder interface {
diff --git a/internal/portforward/loop.go b/internal/portforward/loop.go
index e866bea9..93e114bb 100644
--- a/internal/portforward/loop.go
+++ b/internal/portforward/loop.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/configuration/settings"
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/portforward/service"
@@ -87,6 +88,8 @@ func (l *Loop) run(runCtx context.Context, runDone chan<- struct{},
 	defer close(runDone)
 
 	var serviceRunError <-chan error
+	var retryAfter <-chan time.Time
+	const retryDelay = 5 * time.Second
 	for {
 		updateReceived := false
 		select {
@@ -105,10 +108,12 @@ func (l *Loop) run(runCtx context.Context, runDone chan<- struct{},
 			l.settingsMutex.Unlock()
 		case err := <-serviceRunError:
 			l.logger.Error(err.Error())
+		case <-retryAfter:
+			// Retry starting the service after a delay
+			retryAfter = nil
 		}
 
-		firstRun := serviceRunError == nil
-		if !firstRun {
+		if l.service != nil {
 			err := l.service.Stop()
 			if err != nil {
 				runErrorCh <- fmt.Errorf("stopping previous service: %w", err)
@@ -132,6 +137,10 @@ func (l *Loop) run(runCtx context.Context, runDone chan<- struct{},
 				err = fmt.Errorf("starting port forwarding service: %w", err)
 			}
 			updateResult <- err
+		} else if err != nil {
+			// Log the error and schedule a retry
+			l.logger.Errorf("starting port forwarding service: %s - retrying in %s", err, retryDelay)
+			retryAfter = time.After(retryDelay)
 		}
 	}
 }