diff --git a/lib/eye/process/monitor.rb b/lib/eye/process/monitor.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/eye/process/monitor.rb
+++ b/lib/eye/process/monitor.rb
@@ -3,14 +3,13 @@ module Eye::Process::Monitor
 private
 
   def load_external_pid_file
-    newpid = load_pid_from_file
+    newpid = failsafe_load_pid
+
     if !newpid
       self.pid = nil
       info "load_external_pid_file: no pid_file"
-      return :no_pid_file
-    end
-
-    if process_pid_running?(newpid)
+      :no_pid_file
+    elsif process_pid_running?(newpid)
       self.pid = newpid
       info "load_external_pid_file: process <#{self.pid}> from pid_file found and already running"
       :ok
use failsafe_load_pid as default