diff --git a/src/emqx.erl b/src/emqx.erl
index ea22a31d3..c126b262c 100644
--- a/src/emqx.erl
+++ b/src/emqx.erl
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ start() ->
 restart(ConfFile) ->
     reload_config(ConfFile),
     shutdown(),
+    ok = application:stop(mnesia),
+    application:start(mnesia),
     reboot().
 
 %% @doc Stop emqx application.