diff --git a/tasks/transmission.yml b/tasks/transmission.yml
index 1fd29de..89db08b 100644
--- a/tasks/transmission.yml
+++ b/tasks/transmission.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
-# TODO: stop transmission daemon beforehand, config does not seem to apply
-# during active service
+# transmission's configuration file does not change while the service is
+# still running
+- name: stop transmission daemon
+  systemd:
+    name: transmission
+    state: stopped
+    scope: user
 
 - name: copy transmission template
   template:
@@ -7,9 +12,9 @@
     dest: '{{ ansible_env.HOME }}/.config/transmission-daemon/settings.json'
     mode: '0600'
 
-- name: restart transmission daemon
+- name: start transmission daemon
   systemd:
     name: transmission
-    state: restarted
+    state: started
     enabled: true
     scope: user