diff --git a/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/openvpn.inc b/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/openvpn.inc
index 7e94d2313..d0b0b9c66 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/openvpn.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/openvpn.inc
@@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@ function openvpn_restart($mode, $settings)
     /* start the new process */
     $fpath = "/var/etc/openvpn/{$mode_id}.conf";
     openvpn_clear_route($mode, $settings);
-    mwexec_bg("/usr/local/sbin/openvpn --config " . escapeshellarg($fpath));
+    mwexecf('/usr/local/sbin/openvpn --config %s --daemon', $fpath);
 
     if (!file_exists("/var/run/booting")) {
         configd_run("filter reload");