diff --git a/src/Discord.Net.WebSocket/ConnectionManager.cs b/src/Discord.Net.WebSocket/ConnectionManager.cs
index e444f359f..f304d4ea8 100644
--- a/src/Discord.Net.WebSocket/ConnectionManager.cs
+++ b/src/Discord.Net.WebSocket/ConnectionManager.cs
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ namespace Discord
 
         public virtual async Task StartAsync()
         {
+            if (State != ConnectionState.Disconnected)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("Cannot start an already running client.");
+
             await AcquireConnectionLock().ConfigureAwait(false);
             var reconnectCancelToken = new CancellationTokenSource();
             _reconnectCancelToken?.Dispose();