diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
index 68b36842..476931ec 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@ validate_ip() {
           exit 1
         fi
       done
-      echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Valid: ($ip).${COLOR_RESET}"
+      if ifconfig | grep -w "$ip" >/dev/null; then
+        echo -e "${COLOR_YELLOW}Warning: ip address already in use ($ip).${COLOR_RESET}"
+      else
+        echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Valid: ($ip).${COLOR_RESET}"      
     else
       echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Invalid: ($ip).${COLOR_RESET}"
       exit 1
diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/start.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/start.sh
index a1f5e89b..c16e6cae 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/start.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/start.sh
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ for _jail in ${JAILS}; do
     elif [ ! "$(jls name | awk "/^${_jail}$/")" ]; then
         echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}[${_jail}]:${COLOR_RESET}"
         jail -f "${bastille_jailsdir}/${_jail}/jail.conf" -c ${_jail}
-
+        ip=$(grep 'ip4.addr' "${bastille_jailsdir}/${_jail}/jail.conf" | awk '{print $3}' | sed 's/\;//g')
+        if ifconfig | grep -w "$ip" >/dev/null; then
+          echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Error: IP address ($ip) already in use.${COLOR_RESET}"
+          exit 1
+        fi
         ## add rctl limits
         if [ -s "${bastille_jailsdir}/${_jail}/rctl.conf" ]; then
             while read _limits; do