diff --git a/clever/src/selfcheck.py b/clever/src/selfcheck.py
index d5fc8b0a..ff351e7c 100755
--- a/clever/src/selfcheck.py
+++ b/clever/src/selfcheck.py
@@ -626,8 +626,10 @@ def check_clever_service():
         failure('systemctl returned %s: %s', e.returncode, e.output)
         return
     if 'inactive' in output:
-        failure('clever.service is not running, try sudo systemctl restart clever')
+        failure('service is not running, try sudo systemctl restart clever')
         return
+    elif 'failed' in output:
+        failure('service failed to run')
 
     try:
         from systemd import journal