diff --git a/arch/tools/cli/core.py b/arch/tools/cli/core.py
index a9388b92..c91120df 100644
--- a/arch/tools/cli/core.py
+++ b/arch/tools/cli/core.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import time
 import sys
 import glob
 import docker
+from docker.errors import DockerException
 from cli.utils import getLogger, update_docker_host_env
 from cli.consts import (
     ARCHGW_DOCKER_IMAGE,
@@ -110,8 +111,12 @@ def start_arch(arch_config_file, env, log_timeout=120, foreground=False):
     log.info("Starting arch gateway")
 
     try:
-        update_docker_host_env()
-        client = docker.from_env()
+        try:
+            client = docker.from_env()
+        except DockerException as e:
+            # try setting up the docker host environment variable and retry
+            update_docker_host_env()
+            client = docker.from_env()
 
         try:
             container = client.containers.get("archgw")
diff --git a/arch/tools/cli/utils.py b/arch/tools/cli/utils.py
index 60ffa0c4..8e8b234d 100644
--- a/arch/tools/cli/utils.py
+++ b/arch/tools/cli/utils.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import os
 import yaml
 import logging
 import docker
+from docker.errors import DockerException
 
 from cli.consts import ARCHGW_DOCKER_IMAGE, ARCHGW_DOCKER_NAME
 
@@ -39,9 +40,13 @@ def update_docker_host_env():
 
 def validate_schema(arch_config_file: str) -> None:
     try:
-        update_docker_host_env()
-        client = docker.from_env()
-        # Run the container with detach=True to avoid blocking main process
+        try:
+            client = docker.from_env()
+        except DockerException as e:
+            # try setting up the docker host environment variable and retry
+            update_docker_host_env()
+            client = docker.from_env()
+
         container = client.containers.run(
             image=ARCHGW_DOCKER_IMAGE,
             volumes={