diff --git a/dangerzone/__init__.py b/dangerzone/__init__.py
index 6d3d2d0..be8ed79 100644
--- a/dangerzone/__init__.py
+++ b/dangerzone/__init__.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class Application(QtWidgets.QApplication):
 
 
 @click.command()
-@click.option("--custom-container") # Use this container instead of flmcode/dangerzone
+@click.option("--custom-container")  # Use this container instead of flmcode/dangerzone
 @click.argument("filename", required=False)
 def main(custom_container, filename):
     click.echo(f"dangerzone {dangerzone_version}")
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ def main(custom_container, filename):
         if not global_common.ensure_user_is_in_docker_group():
             click.echo("Failed to add user to docker group")
             return
+        if not global_common.ensure_docker_service_is_started():
+            click.echo("Failed to start docker service")
+            return
 
     # See if we need to install Docker...
     if (platform.system() == "Darwin" or platform.system() == "Windows") and (
diff --git a/dangerzone/global_common.py b/dangerzone/global_common.py
index 29c77e2..e8fd1e8 100644
--- a/dangerzone/global_common.py
+++ b/dangerzone/global_common.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ elif platform.system() == "Linux":
     from xdg.DesktopEntry import DesktopEntry
 
 from .settings import Settings
+from .docker_installer import is_docker_ready
 
 
 class GlobalCommon(object):
@@ -404,6 +405,31 @@ class GlobalCommon(object):
 
         return True
 
+    def ensure_docker_service_is_started(self):
+        if not is_docker_ready(self):
+            message = "<b>Dangerzone requires Docker.</b><br><br>Docker should be installed, but it looks like it's not running in the background.<br><br>Click Ok to try starting the docker service. You will have to type your login password."
+            if Alert(self, message).launch():
+                p = subprocess.run(
+                    [
+                        "/usr/bin/pkexec",
+                        self.get_resource_path("enable_docker_service.sh"),
+                    ]
+                )
+                if p.returncode == 0:
+                    # Make sure docker is now ready
+                    if is_docker_ready(self):
+                        return True
+                    else:
+                        message = "Restarting docker appeared to work, but the service still isn't responding, quitting."
+                        Alert(self, message).launch()
+                else:
+                    message = "Failed to start the docker service, quitting."
+                    Alert(self, message).launch()
+
+            return False
+
+        return True
+
     def get_subprocess_startupinfo(self):
         if platform.system() == "Windows":
             startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
diff --git a/share/enable_docker_service.sh b/share/enable_docker_service.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8ce851f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/share/enable_docker_service.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+/usr/bin/systemctl restart docker
+/usr/bin/systemctl enable docker
\ No newline at end of file