diff --git a/agent/testflinger_agent/runner.py b/agent/testflinger_agent/runner.py
index 9e804513..f20181f4 100644
--- a/agent/testflinger_agent/runner.py
+++ b/agent/testflinger_agent/runner.py
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ def cleanup(self):
             self.process.kill()
 
     def run(self, cmd: str) -> int:
+        # Ensure that the process is None before starting
+        self.process = None
 
         signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, lambda signum, frame: self.cleanup())