diff --git a/advanced/Templates/pihole-FTL.service b/advanced/Templates/pihole-FTL.service
index dc7649e7..460339ae 100644
--- a/advanced/Templates/pihole-FTL.service
+++ b/advanced/Templates/pihole-FTL.service
@@ -38,15 +38,16 @@ start() {
     sh "${PI_HOLE_SCRIPT_DIR}/pihole-FTL-prestart.sh"
 
     if setcap CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE,CAP_NET_RAW,CAP_NET_ADMIN,CAP_SYS_NICE,CAP_IPC_LOCK,CAP_CHOWN+eip "/usr/bin/pihole-FTL"; then
-      su -s /bin/sh -c "/usr/bin/pihole-FTL" pihole || ec=$?
+      su -s /bin/sh -c "/usr/bin/pihole-FTL" pihole
     else
       echo "Warning: Starting pihole-FTL as root because setting capabilities is not supported on this system"
-      /usr/bin/pihole-FTL || ec=$?
+      /usr/bin/pihole-FTL
     fi
+    rc=$?
     # Cleanup if startup failed
-    if [ -n "${ec}" ] && [ "${ec}" != 0 ]; then
+    if [ "${rc}" != 0 ]; then
         cleanup
-        exit $ec
+        exit $rc
     fi
     echo
   fi