diff --git a/.devcontainer/bin/init-dev-container.sh b/.devcontainer/bin/init-dev-container.sh
index 43acc5fe543..3a2603d2d6e 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/bin/init-dev-container.sh
+++ b/.devcontainer/bin/init-dev-container.sh
@@ -8,15 +8,24 @@ startInBackgroundIfNotRunning()
 {
 	log "Starting $1."
 	echo -e "\n** $(date) **" | sudoIf tee -a /tmp/$1.log > /dev/null
-	if [ ! -f "/tmp/$1.pid" ] || ! ps -p $(cat /tmp/$1.pid) > /dev/null; then
-		($2 sh -c "while :; do echo [\$(date)] Process started.; $3; echo [\$(date)] Process exited!; sleep 5; done 2>&1" | sudoIf tee -a /tmp/$1.log > /dev/null & echo "$!" | sudoIf tee /tmp/$1.pid > /dev/null)
-		log "$1 started."
+	if ! pidof $1 > /dev/null; then
+		keepRunningInBackground "$@"
 	else
 		echo "$1 is already running." | sudoIf tee -a /tmp/$1.log > /dev/null
 		log "$1 is already running."
 	fi
 }
 
+# Keep command running in background
+keepRunningInBackground()
+{
+	($2 sh -c "while :; do echo [\$(date)] Process started.; $3; echo [\$(date)] Process exited!; sleep 5; done 2>&1" | sudoIf tee -a /tmp/$1.log > /dev/null & echo "$!" | sudoIf tee /tmp/$1.pid > /dev/null)
+	while ! pidof $1 > /dev/null; do
+		sleep 1
+	done
+	log "$1 started."
+}
+
 # Use sudo to run as root when required
 sudoIf()
 {
@@ -47,7 +56,7 @@ log "** SCRIPT START **"
 
 # Start dbus.
 log 'Running "/etc/init.d/dbus start".'
-if [ -f "/var/run/dbus/pid" ] && ! ps -p $(cat /var/run/dbus/pid) > /dev/null; then
+if [ -f "/var/run/dbus/pid" ] && ! pidof dbus-daemon  > /dev/null; then
 	sudoIf rm -f /var/run/dbus/pid
 fi
 sudoIf /etc/init.d/dbus start 2>&1 | sudoIf tee -a /tmp/dbus-daemon-system.log > /dev/null
@@ -57,31 +66,19 @@ done
 
 # Set up Xvfb.
 startInBackgroundIfNotRunning "Xvfb" sudoIf "Xvfb ${DISPLAY:-:1} +extension RANDR -screen 0 ${MAX_VNC_RESOLUTION:-1920x1080x16}"
-while ! pidof Xvfb > /dev/null; do
-	sleep 1
-done
 
 # Start fluxbox as a light weight window manager.
 startInBackgroundIfNotRunning "fluxbox" sudoUserIf "dbus-launch startfluxbox"
-while ! pidof fluxbox > /dev/null; do
-	sleep 1
-done
 
 # Set resolution
 /usr/local/bin/set-resolution ${VNC_RESOLUTION:-1280x720} ${VNC_DPI:-72}
 
-# Start x11vnc if installed.
-if type x11vnc 2>&1 > /dev/null; then
-	startInBackgroundIfNotRunning "x11vnc" sudoIf "x11vnc -display ${DISPLAY:-:1} -rfbport ${VNC_PORT:-5901}  -listen localhost -rfbportv6 ${VNC_PORT:-5901} -listenv6 localhost -xkb -shared -forever -nopw"
-else
-	log "Skipping x11vnc - not installed."
-fi
+# Start x11vnc
+startInBackgroundIfNotRunning "x11vnc" sudoIf "x11vnc -display ${DISPLAY:-:1} -rfbport ${VNC_PORT:-5901}  -localhost -no6 -xkb -shared -forever -nopw"
 
-# Spin up noVNC if installed.
-if [ -d "/usr/local/novnc" ]; then
-	startInBackgroundIfNotRunning "noVNC" sudoIf "/usr/local/novnc/noVNC*/utils/launch.sh --listen ${NOVNC_PORT:-6080} --vnc localhost:${VNC_PORT:-5901}"
-else
-	log "Skipping noVNC - not installed."
+# Spin up noVNC if installed and not runnning.
+if [ -d "/usr/local/novnc" ] && [ "$(ps -ef | grep /usr/local/novnc/noVNC*/utils/launch.sh)" = "" ]; then
+	keepRunningInBackground "noVNC" sudoIf "/usr/local/novnc/noVNC*/utils/launch.sh --listen ${NOVNC_PORT:-6080} --vnc localhost:${VNC_PORT:-5901}"
 fi
 
 # Run whatever was passed in