diff --git a/src/jid.erl b/src/jid.erl
index 46830d031..a730bd949 100644
--- a/src/jid.erl
+++ b/src/jid.erl
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 -spec start() -> ok.
 
 start() ->
-    Owner = spawn(fun() -> ets_keepalive() end),
+    {ok, Owner} = ets_owner(),
     SplitPattern = binary:compile_pattern([<<"@">>, <<"/">>]),
     %% Table is public to allow ETS insert to fix / update the table even if table already exist
     %% with another owner.
@@ -58,6 +58,19 @@ start() ->
     ets:insert(jlib, {string_to_jid_pattern, SplitPattern}),
     ok.
 
+ets_owner() ->
+    case whereis(jlib_ets) of
+        undefined ->
+            Pid = spawn(fun() -> ets_keepalive() end),
+            case catch register(jlib_ets, Pid) of
+                true ->
+                    {ok, Pid};
+                Error -> Error
+            end;
+        Pid ->
+            {ok,Pid}
+    end.
+
 %% Process used to keep jlib ETS table alive in case the original owner dies.
 %% The table need to be public, otherwise subsequent inserts would fail.
 ets_keepalive() ->