diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index 2f4a6f2..417d5e3 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@
 
 __version__ = "0.1.0"
 
+# Module-level guard: prevent duplicate WSS auto-start when the plugin is
+# installed in multiple locations (e.g. global + profile).  The first
+# ``register()`` that runs sets this True; subsequent calls no-op.
+_auto_start_done = False
+
 def register(ctx) -> None:
     """Hermes plugin entry point.
 
@@ -165,6 +170,12 @@ def _log(msg: str) -> None:
         except Exception:
             pass
 
+    global _auto_start_done
+    if _auto_start_done:
+        _log("auto-start already handled by another registration, skipping")
+        return
+    _auto_start_done = True
+
     _log("auto-start check running")
 
     if os.environ.get("HERMES_NODES_AUTO_START", "1") == "1":