diff --git a/lib/session/call-session.js b/lib/session/call-session.js
index 44d6cc63..5c608709 100644
--- a/lib/session/call-session.js
+++ b/lib/session/call-session.js
@@ -450,8 +450,8 @@ class CallSession extends Emitter {
   async enableBotMode(gather, autoEnable) {
     try {
       if (this.backgroundGatherTask) {
-        this.logger.info('CallSession:enableBotMode - bot mode currently enabled, stop it');
-        this.disableBotMode();
+        this.logger.info('CallSession:enableBotMode - bot mode currently enabled, ignoring request to start again');
+        return;
       }
       const t = normalizeJambones(this.logger, [gather]);
       this.backgroundGatherTask = makeTask(this.logger, t[0]);