diff --git a/plugins/python/python_plugin.c b/plugins/python/python_plugin.c
index 57cc581a..c3793f6c 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python_plugin.c
+++ b/plugins/python/python_plugin.c
@@ -1367,8 +1367,10 @@ void *uwsgi_python_autoreloader_thread(void *foobar) {
 		UWSGI_RELEASE_GIL;
 		sleep(up.auto_reload);
 		UWSGI_GET_GIL;
-		// do not start monitoring til the first app is loaded (required for lazy mode)
-		if (uwsgi_apps_cnt == 0) continue;
+		if (uwsgi.lazy || uwsgi.lazy_apps) {
+			// do not start monitoring til the first app is loaded (required for lazy mode)
+			if (uwsgi_apps_cnt == 0) continue;
+		}
 #ifdef UWSGI_PYTHON_OLD
                 int pos = 0;
 #else