diff --git a/.github/config/file-filters.yml b/.github/config/file-filters.yml
index cb9c770aa3..6ac042dbb2 100644
--- a/.github/config/file-filters.yml
+++ b/.github/config/file-filters.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ changed:
   - 'go.sum'
   - '.patches/**'
   - 'vendor/**'
+  - '.github/scripts/test-collector-ctl.sh'
 all:
   - '**'
 version:
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test-collector-ctl.sh b/.github/scripts/test-collector-ctl.sh
index 958f5cfc3a..9d88dcd460 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/test-collector-ctl.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/test-collector-ctl.sh
@@ -67,8 +67,29 @@ test_collector_ctl_with_sed_special_chars() {
 }
 
 
+test_collector_ctl_with_samecfg() {
+    #ensure default cfg is cleared 
+    rm /opt/aws/aws-otel-collector/etc/config.yaml
+    
+    $ADOT_CTL -a start -c "file:/opt/aws/aws-otel-collector/etc/config.yaml"
+
+    echo "${FUNCNAME[0]} ... OK"
+}
+
+
+test_collector_ctl_with_samecfg_restart() {
+    #populate default conf by starting without -c
+    $ADOT_CTL -a start 
+
+    $ADOT_CTL -a start -c "file:/opt/aws/aws-otel-collector/etc/config.yaml"
+
+    echo "${FUNCNAME[0]} ... OK"
+}
+
 setup
 
 ## Tests
 test_collector_ctl_does_not_overwrite_env
 test_collector_ctl_with_sed_special_chars
+test_collector_ctl_with_samecfg
+test_collector_ctl_with_samecfg_restart
diff --git a/tools/ctl/linux/aws-otel-collector-ctl.sh b/tools/ctl/linux/aws-otel-collector-ctl.sh
index 8846bb3cce..fb38780efe 100644
--- a/tools/ctl/linux/aws-otel-collector-ctl.sh
+++ b/tools/ctl/linux/aws-otel-collector-ctl.sh
@@ -69,7 +69,11 @@ aoc_config_local_uri() {
 
 
     if [ -n "$config" ] && [ -f "$config" ]; then
-        cp "$config" $CONFDIR/config.yaml
+        # do not copy if the default congif directory is provided for the -f flag.
+        # copying a file to the same location produces an error. 
+        if [ ! "$config" = "$CONFDIR/config.yaml" ]; then
+            cp "$config" $CONFDIR/config.yaml
+        fi
     else
         echo "File $config does not exist"
         exit 1
@@ -77,6 +81,7 @@ aoc_config_local_uri() {
 }
 
 # Used in case the collector starts for the first time without a configuration parameter
+# Safe to run as this will not overwrite a file if one exists in default location already.
 aoc_ensure_default_config() {
     if [ ! -f $CONFDIR/config.yaml ]; then
         cp $DFT_CONFDIR/.config.yaml $CONFDIR/config.yaml
@@ -97,9 +102,8 @@ aoc_start() {
     config="${1:-}"
 
     # The previous configuration should be used if no configuration parameter is passed
-    if [ -z "$config" ]; then
-        aoc_ensure_default_config
-    else
+    aoc_ensure_default_config
+    if [ -n "$config" ]; then
         if is_remote_uri "$config"; then
             aoc_config_remote_uri "$config"
         else