diff --git a/internal/dns/run.go b/internal/dns/run.go
index 2c67f9f4..430ab0ef 100644
--- a/internal/dns/run.go
+++ b/internal/dns/run.go
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ func (l *Loop) Run(ctx context.Context, done chan<- struct{}) {
 			if err == nil {
 				l.backoffTime = defaultBackoffTime
 				l.logger.Info("ready")
-				l.signalOrSetStatus(constants.Running)
 				break
 			}
 
@@ -62,6 +61,7 @@ func (l *Loop) Run(ctx context.Context, done chan<- struct{}) {
 			l.logAndWait(ctx, err)
 			settings = l.GetSettings()
 		}
+		l.signalOrSetStatus(constants.Running)
 
 		settings = l.GetSettings()
 		if !*settings.KeepNameserver && !*settings.ServerEnabled {
@@ -82,15 +82,19 @@ func (l *Loop) runWait(ctx context.Context, runError <-chan error) (exitLoop boo
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
-			l.stopServer()
-			// TODO revert OS and Go nameserver when exiting
+			if !*l.GetSettings().KeepNameserver {
+				l.stopServer()
+				// TODO revert OS and Go nameserver when exiting
+			}
 			return true
 		case <-l.stop:
 			l.userTrigger = true
 			l.logger.Info("stopping")
-			const fallback = false
-			l.useUnencryptedDNS(fallback)
-			l.stopServer()
+			if !*l.GetSettings().KeepNameserver {
+				const fallback = false
+				l.useUnencryptedDNS(fallback)
+				l.stopServer()
+			}
 			l.stopped <- struct{}{}
 		case <-l.start:
 			l.userTrigger = true