diff --git a/include/proto/proxy.h b/include/proto/proxy.h
index 7268bfaad..72394788c 100644
--- a/include/proto/proxy.h
+++ b/include/proto/proxy.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ int start_proxies(int verbose);
 void maintain_proxies(struct timeval *next);
 void soft_stop(void);
 void pause_proxy(struct proxy *p);
+void stop_proxy(struct proxy *p);
 void pause_proxies(void);
 void listen_proxies(void);
 
diff --git a/src/cfgparse.c b/src/cfgparse.c
index d34bfbe1c..b33800c73 100644
--- a/src/cfgparse.c
+++ b/src/cfgparse.c
@@ -2726,6 +2726,8 @@ int readcfgfile(const char *file)
 		struct listener *listener;
 
 		if (curproxy->state == PR_STSTOPPED) {
+			/* ensure we don't keep listeners uselessly bound */
+			stop_proxy(curproxy);
 			curproxy = curproxy->next;
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/src/proxy.c b/src/proxy.c
index 6fad76eae..358132995 100644
--- a/src/proxy.c
+++ b/src/proxy.c
@@ -351,15 +351,7 @@ void maintain_proxies(struct timeval *next)
 				if (t == 0) {
 					Warning("Proxy %s stopped.\n", p->id);
 					send_log(p, LOG_WARNING, "Proxy %s stopped.\n", p->id);
-
-					for (l = p->listen; l != NULL; l = l->next) {
-						unbind_listener(l);
-						if (l->state >= LI_ASSIGNED) {
-							delete_listener(l);
-							listeners--;
-						}
-					}
-					p->state = PR_STSTOPPED;
+					stop_proxy(p);
 					/* try to free more memory */
 					pool_gc2();
 				}
@@ -421,6 +413,28 @@ void pause_proxy(struct proxy *p)
 	}
 }
 
+
+/*
+ * This function completely stops a proxy and releases its listeners. It has
+ * to be called when going down in order to release the ports so that another
+ * process may bind to them. It must also be called on disabled proxies at the
+ * end of start-up. When all listeners are closed, the proxy is set to the
+ * PR_STSTOPPED state.
+ */
+void stop_proxy(struct proxy *p)
+{
+	struct listener *l;
+
+	for (l = p->listen; l != NULL; l = l->next) {
+		unbind_listener(l);
+		if (l->state >= LI_ASSIGNED) {
+			delete_listener(l);
+			listeners--;
+		}
+	}
+	p->state = PR_STSTOPPED;
+}
+
 /*
  * This function temporarily disables listening so that another new instance
  * can start listening. It is designed to be called upon reception of a