diff --git a/home.admin/config.scripts/lnd.check.sh b/home.admin/config.scripts/lnd.check.sh
index fd4a73757..bc655d7ca 100755
--- a/home.admin/config.scripts/lnd.check.sh
+++ b/home.admin/config.scripts/lnd.check.sh
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ if [ "$1" == "prestart" ]; then
   # enforce PublicIP if (if not running Tor)
   if [ "${runBehindTor}" != "on" ]; then
     setting ${lndConfFile} ${insertLine} "externalip" "${publicIP}:${lndPort}"
+  else
+    # when running Tor a public ip can make startup problems - so remove
+    sed -i '/^externalip=*/d' ${lndConfFile}
   fi
 
   # enforce LND keysend (if set in raspiblitz.conf)