diff --git a/src/freedombone-utils-onion b/src/freedombone-utils-onion
index f81cc66e..3015dbe4 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-utils-onion
+++ b/src/freedombone-utils-onion
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ function wait_for_onion_service {
     done
 
     if [ ! -f /var/lib/tor/hidden_service_${onion_service_name}/hostname ]; then
-        # restart and try a second time
-        systemctl restart tor
+        # reload and try a second time
+        systemctl reload tor
         sleep_ctr=0
         while [ ! -f /var/lib/tor/hidden_service_${onion_service_name}/hostname ]; do
             sleep 1
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ function remove_onion_service {
         shred -zu /var/lib/tor/hidden_service_${onion_service_name}/*
         rm -rf /var/lib/tor/hidden_service_${onion_service_name}
     fi
-    systemctl restart tor
+    systemctl reload tor
 }
 
 function add_onion_service {
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ function add_onion_service {
         echo "HiddenServicePort ${onion_service_port_from} 127.0.0.1:${onion_service_port_to}" >> /etc/tor/torrc
     fi
 
-    systemctl restart tor
+    systemctl reload tor
 
     function_check wait_for_onion_service
     wait_for_onion_service ${onion_service_name}
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ function resolve_dns_via_tor {
         echo 'DNSPort 53' >> /etc/tor/torrc
         echo 'AutomapHostsOnResolve 1' >> /etc/tor/torrc
         echo 'AutomapHostsSuffixes .exit,.onion' >> /etc/tor/torrc
-        systemctl restart tor
+        systemctl reload tor
     fi
 
     # don't change resolv.conf