diff --git a/src/system.clj b/src/system.clj
index b8cee5e..f882c20 100644
--- a/src/system.clj
+++ b/src/system.clj
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
       (yaml/parse-stream datafile))
     (catch Exception e nil)))
 
-(defn start [system]
+(defn start [_]
   (let [config (load-config "config.yaml")
         state (atom (load-state (:data-file config)))
         irc (irc/new-irc-connection state config)]
@@ -52,8 +52,7 @@
 
 (defn restart [system-var]
   (do
-    (alter-var-root system-var stop)
-    (alter-var-root system-var (constantly nil))
+    (stop (deref system-var))
     (alter-var-root system-var start)))
 
 (defn -main [& args]