diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e486848..c5dff18 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ Instead of running the script by hand every time you add something, `--service`
 
 ```
 python plex-library-tool.py --service                    # pick share(s) interactively, then start
-python plex-library-tool.py --service "/Volumes/Movies"  # add a share and start (default: every 60s)
+python plex-library-tool.py --service "/Volumes/Movies"  # add a share and start (default: every 5 minutes)
 python plex-library-tool.py --service 120                # set the interval to 120 seconds and start
 python plex-library-tool.py --service start               # start using the current configuration
 python plex-library-tool.py --service stop                # stop the service
diff --git a/plex-library-tool.py b/plex-library-tool.py
index 9c2a395..c63800c 100755
--- a/plex-library-tool.py
+++ b/plex-library-tool.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ NAMES_FILE = SCRIPT_DIR / "names.yaml"
 CLEANUP_TRASH_DIR = SCRIPT_DIR / ".trash"
 SERVICE_CONFIG_FILE = SCRIPT_DIR / "service.json"
 SERVICE_LOG_FILE = LOG_DIR / "service.log"
-DEFAULT_SERVICE_INTERVAL = 60
+DEFAULT_SERVICE_INTERVAL = 300
 
 VERBOSE = False
 
@@ -4040,6 +4040,12 @@ def handle_service_command(value):
         config = load_service_config()
         config["interval"] = interval
         save_service_config(config)
+
+        existing_pid = config.get("pid")
+        if existing_pid and is_process_running(existing_pid):
+            print(f"Interval updated to {interval}s. The running service (PID {existing_pid}) will pick it up on its next cycle.")
+            return
+
         if not config.get("paths"):
             print(f"Interval set to {interval}s. No shares configured yet.")
             interactive_configure_service()