diff --git a/boswatch/network/server.py b/boswatch/network/server.py
index 70eef84..6f92846 100644
--- a/boswatch/network/server.py
+++ b/boswatch/network/server.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class TCPServer:
         @return True or False"""
         if not self.isRunning:
             try:
-                socketserver.TCPServer.allow_reuse_address = True
+                socketserver.TCPServer.allow_reuse_address = False  # because we can start two instances on same port elsewhere
                 self._server = _ThreadedTCPServer(("", port), _ThreadedTCPRequestHandler)
                 self._server.timeout = self._timeout
                 self._server.alarmQueue = self._alarmQueue
diff --git a/test/boswatch/test_ServerClient.py b/test/boswatch/test_ServerClient.py
index 9f4554f..358510e 100644
--- a/test/boswatch/test_ServerClient.py
+++ b/test/boswatch/test_ServerClient.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def test_serverStartTwoInstances():
     assert testServer1.isRunning
     assert not testServer2.start()
     assert testServer1.isRunning
-    assert testServer2.isRunning
+    assert not testServer2.isRunning
     assert testServer1.stop()
     assert testServer2.stop()