diff --git a/src/charm.py b/src/charm.py
index 7a8a29e2e..31e3a90b7 100755
--- a/src/charm.py
+++ b/src/charm.py
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ def _on_start(self, event) -> None:
             event.defer()
             return
 
-        if not container.exists(Config.SOCKET_PATH):
+        if not self._socket_exists(container):
             logger.debug("The mongod socket is not ready yet.")
             event.defer()
             return
@@ -779,6 +779,9 @@ def _connect_mongodb_exporter(self) -> None:
         # Restart changed services and start startup-enabled services.
         container.replan()
 
+    def _socket_exists(self, container) -> bool:
+        return container.exists(Config.SOCKET_PATH)
+
     # END: helper functions
 
     # BEGIN: static methods