diff --git a/command/agent/consul/check.go b/command/agent/consul/check.go
index 1b601ea36..551f94b6f 100644
--- a/command/agent/consul/check.go
+++ b/command/agent/consul/check.go
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ func (r *CheckRunner) Start() {
 	r.started = true
 }
 
+// Started returns if the check runner has started running
 func (r *CheckRunner) Started() bool {
 	r.startedLock.Lock()
 	defer r.startedLock.Unlock()
diff --git a/command/agent/consul/syncer.go b/command/agent/consul/syncer.go
index f7d78f7ef..8ac66fd9f 100644
--- a/command/agent/consul/syncer.go
+++ b/command/agent/consul/syncer.go
@@ -687,16 +687,12 @@ func (c *Syncer) registerCheck(chkReg *consul.AgentCheckRegistration) error {
 	return c.client.Agent().CheckRegister(chkReg)
 }
 
-// ensureCheckRunning verifies that registerd check is in running state
+// ensureCheckRunning starts the check runner for a check if it's not already running
 func (c *Syncer) ensureCheckRunning(chk *consul.AgentCheckRegistration) {
 	c.registryLock.RLock()
 	defer c.registryLock.RUnlock()
-	cr, ok := c.checkRunners[consulCheckID(chk.ID)]
-	if !ok {
-		return
-	}
-	if !cr.Started() {
-		c.logger.Printf("[DEBUG] ensureCheckRunning Running existing check. %v", chk)
+	if cr, ok := c.checkRunners[consulCheckID(chk.ID)]; ok && !cr.Started() {
+		c.logger.Printf("[DEBUG] consul.syncer: starting runner for existing check. %v", chk.ID)
 		cr.Start()
 	}
 }