diff --git a/core/core.js b/core/core.js
index 8da56888b..67a71e3fb 100644
--- a/core/core.js
+++ b/core/core.js
@@ -844,23 +844,25 @@ loadSettings()
 			httpd.set_http_redirect(settings.http_redirect);
 		}
 		httpd.all('/app/socket', app.socket);
-		let port = httpd.start(tildefriends.http_port);
-		if (tildefriends.args.out_http_port_file) {
-			print('Writing the port file.');
-			File.writeFile(
-				tildefriends.args.out_http_port_file,
-				port.toString() + '\n'
-			)
-				.then(function (r) {
-					print(
-						'Wrote the port file:',
-						tildefriends.args.out_http_port_file,
-						r
-					);
-				})
-				.catch(function () {
-					print('Failed to write the port file.');
-				});
+		if (tildefriends.http_port > 0 || tildefriends.args.out_http_port_file) {
+			let port = httpd.start(tildefriends.http_port);
+			if (tildefriends.args.out_http_port_file) {
+				print('Writing the port file.');
+				File.writeFile(
+					tildefriends.args.out_http_port_file,
+					port.toString() + '\n'
+				)
+					.then(function (r) {
+						print(
+							'Wrote the port file:',
+							tildefriends.args.out_http_port_file,
+							r
+						);
+					})
+					.catch(function () {
+						print('Failed to write the port file.');
+					});
+			}
 		}
 
 		if (tildefriends.https_port) {