diff --git a/projects/rdc/src/DEBIAN_prerm.in b/projects/rdc/src/DEBIAN_prerm.in
index ffbbab79d0..a047f2c35a 100644
--- a/projects/rdc/src/DEBIAN_prerm.in
+++ b/projects/rdc/src/DEBIAN_prerm.in
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 stop_rdc() {
-    if [ -d /run/systemd/system ]; then
-        #stop RDC if running
+    #stop RDC service if systemd exists and service is running
+    if [ -d /run/systemd/system ] && $( systemctl is-active --quiet rdc ); then
         systemctl stop rdc
     fi
     return 0
diff --git a/projects/rdc/src/RPM_postun.in b/projects/rdc/src/RPM_postun.in
index 601c346dfe..c0b7f3c676 100755
--- a/projects/rdc/src/RPM_postun.in
+++ b/projects/rdc/src/RPM_postun.in
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 stop_rdc() {
-    #stop RDC if running
-    if [ -d /run/systemd/system ]; then
+    #stop RDC service if systemd exists and service is running
+    if [ -d /run/systemd/system ] && $( systemctl is-active --quiet rdc ); then
         systemctl stop rdc
     fi
     return 0