Index: features/core/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/features/internal/FeaturesServiceImpl.java
===================================================================
--- features/core/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/features/internal/FeaturesServiceImpl.java	(revision 1376198)
+++ features/core/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/features/internal/FeaturesServiceImpl.java	(working copy)
@@ -478,11 +478,18 @@
         			configFile.getFinalname(), configFile.isOverride(), verbose);
         }
         Set<Long> bundles = new TreeSet<Long>();
+        List<InstallResult> installResultList = new LinkedList<InstallResult>();
         for (BundleInfo bInfo : resolve(feature)) {
-            Bundle b = installBundleIfNeeded(state, bInfo, verbose);
-            bundles.add(b.getBundleId());
-            state.bundleInfos.put(b.getBundleId(), bInfo);
+            InstallResult result = installBundleIfNeeded(state, bInfo, verbose);
+            bundles.add(result.getBundle().getBundleId());
+            state.bundleInfos.put(result.getBundle().getBundleId(), bInfo);
+            installResultList.add(result);
         }
+        for (InstallResult result : installResultList) {
+        	if (!result.wasPreviouslyInstalled()) {
+        		startBundleIfNeeded(result.getBundle(),result.getStartLevel());
+        	}
+        }
         state.features.put(feature, bundles);
     }
 
@@ -645,8 +652,32 @@
         }
         return result;
     }
+    
+    protected static class InstallResult {
+    	private final boolean previouslyInstalled;
+    	private final Bundle bundle;
+    	private final int startLevel;
+    	
+    	protected InstallResult(boolean previouslyInstalled, Bundle bundle, int startLevel) {
+    		this.previouslyInstalled = previouslyInstalled;
+    		this.bundle = bundle;
+    		this.startLevel = startLevel;
+    	}
 
-    protected Bundle installBundleIfNeeded(InstallationState state, BundleInfo bundleInfo, boolean verbose) throws IOException, BundleException {
+		public boolean wasPreviouslyInstalled() {
+			return previouslyInstalled;
+		}
+
+		public Bundle getBundle() {
+			return bundle;
+		}
+		
+		public int getStartLevel() {
+			return startLevel;
+		}
+    }
+
+    protected InstallResult  installBundleIfNeeded(InstallationState state, BundleInfo bundleInfo, boolean verbose) throws IOException, BundleException {
         InputStream is;
         String bundleLocation = bundleInfo.getLocation();
         LOGGER.debug("Checking " + bundleLocation);
@@ -684,7 +715,7 @@
                             System.out.println("Found installed bundle: " + b);
                         }
                         state.bundles.add(b);
-                        return b;
+                        return new InstallResult(true,b,0);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -701,19 +732,25 @@
             Bundle b = getBundleContext().installBundle(bundleLocation, is);
             
             // Define the startLevel for the bundle when defined
-            int ibsl = bundleInfo.getStartLevel();
+            /*int ibsl = bundleInfo.getStartLevel();
             if (ibsl > 0) {
                 getStartLevel().setBundleStartLevel(b, ibsl);
-            }
+            } */
 
             state.bundles.add(b);
             state.installed.add(b);
-            return b;
+            return new InstallResult(false,b,bundleInfo.getStartLevel());
         } finally {
             is.close();
         }
     }
     
+    private void startBundleIfNeeded(Bundle bundle, int startLevel) {
+    	if (startLevel > 0) {
+    		getStartLevel().setBundleStartLevel(bundle, startLevel);
+    	}
+    }
+    
     public void installConfigurationFile(String fileLocation, String finalname, boolean override, boolean verbose) throws IOException {
     	LOGGER.debug("Checking configuration file " + fileLocation);
         if (verbose) {