diff --git a/io/disk/htx_block_devices.py b/io/disk/htx_block_devices.py
index 0289a666f..c6aef358a 100755
--- a/io/disk/htx_block_devices.py
+++ b/io/disk/htx_block_devices.py
@@ -162,11 +162,12 @@ def test_start(self):
         Execute 'HTX' with appropriate parameters.
         """
         self.setup_htx()
-        self.log.info("Stopping existing htx daemon")
-        process.run(" ps -C htxd -o pid=|xargs kill -9")
-        self.log.info("Starting the HTX Deamon")
-        process.run("/usr/lpp/htx/etc/scripts/htxd_run")
-
+        self.log.info("Stopping existing HXE process")
+        hxe_pid = process.getoutput("pgrep -f hxe")
+        if hxe_pid:
+            self.log.info("HXE is already running with PID: %s. Killing it.", hxe_pid)
+            process.run("hcl -shutdown", ignore_status=True)
+            time.sleep(20)
         self.log.info("Creating the HTX mdt files")
         process.run("htxcmdline -createmdt")