diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/main.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/main.py
index bf59793db5..a28c7514df 100755
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/main.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/main.py
@@ -282,12 +282,13 @@ class BitBakeConfigParameters(cookerdata.ConfigParameters):
 
 def start_server(servermodule, configParams, configuration, features):
     server = servermodule.BitBakeServer()
+    single_use = not configParams.server_only
     if configParams.bind:
         (host, port) = configParams.bind.split(':')
-        server.initServer((host, int(port)))
+        server.initServer((host, int(port)), single_use)
         configuration.interface = [ server.serverImpl.host, server.serverImpl.port ]
     else:
-        server.initServer()
+        server.initServer(single_use=single_use)
         configuration.interface = []
 
     try:
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/server/process.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/server/process.py
index e387b30ee3..a3078a873d 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/server/process.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/server/process.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ class ProcessEventQueue(multiprocessing.queues.Queue):
 
 
 class BitBakeServer(BitBakeBaseServer):
-    def initServer(self):
+    def initServer(self, single_use=True):
         # establish communication channels.  We use bidirectional pipes for
         # ui <--> server command/response pairs
         # and a queue for server -> ui event notifications
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/server/xmlrpc.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/server/xmlrpc.py
index 7528138740..ace1cf646b 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/server/xmlrpc.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/server/xmlrpc.py
@@ -186,12 +186,12 @@ class XMLRPCServer(SimpleXMLRPCServer, BaseImplServer):
     # remove this when you're done with debugging
     # allow_reuse_address = True
 
-    def __init__(self, interface):
+    def __init__(self, interface, single_use=False):
         """
         Constructor
         """
         BaseImplServer.__init__(self)
-        self.single_use = interface[1] == 0 # anonymous port, not getting reused
+        self.single_use = single_use
         # Use auto port configuration
         if (interface[1] == -1):
             interface = (interface[0], 0)
@@ -332,9 +332,9 @@ class BitBakeXMLRPCServerConnection(BitBakeBaseServerConnection):
             pass
 
 class BitBakeServer(BitBakeBaseServer):
-    def initServer(self, interface = ("localhost", 0)):
+    def initServer(self, interface = ("localhost", 0), single_use = False):
         self.interface = interface
-        self.serverImpl = XMLRPCServer(interface)
+        self.serverImpl = XMLRPCServer(interface, single_use)
 
     def detach(self):
         daemonize.createDaemon(self.serverImpl.serve_forever, "bitbake-cookerdaemon.log")