diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/IPlugInPort.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/IPlugInPort.java
index 9b3991af..17f22e76 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/IPlugInPort.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/IPlugInPort.java
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ public interface IPlugInPort extends ISelectionProcessor, IMouseProcessor, IKeyP
   public static final String CONTINUOUS_CREATION_KEY = "continuousCreation";
   public static final String AUTO_EDIT_KEY = "autoEdit";
   public static final String ABNORMAL_EXIT_KEY = "abnormalExit";
+  public static final String HEARTBEAT = "heartbeat";
   public static final String WHEEL_ZOOM_KEY = "wheelZoom";
   public static final String OUTLINE_KEY = "outline";
   public static final String THEME_KEY = "theme";
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
index b096bb0e..6317b5a5 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ public class Presenter implements IPlugInPort {
         for (Class<?> clazz : classes) {
           if (IAutoCreator.class.isAssignableFrom(clazz)) {
             autoCreators.add((IAutoCreator) clazz.newInstance());
-            LOG.debug("Loaded auto-cretor: " + clazz.getName());
+            LOG.debug("Loaded auto-creator: " + clazz.getName());
           }
         }
       } catch (Exception e) {
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/autosave/AutoSavePlugin.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/autosave/AutoSavePlugin.java
index 54c06dd7..28d346de 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/autosave/AutoSavePlugin.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/autosave/AutoSavePlugin.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.diylc.swing.plugins.autosave;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.EnumSet;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
 import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
@@ -41,9 +42,12 @@ public class AutoSavePlugin implements IPlugIn {
       @Override
       public void run() {
         boolean wasAbnormal = ConfigurationManager.getInstance().readBoolean(IPlugInPort.ABNORMAL_EXIT_KEY, false);
+        Date lastHeartbeat = (Date) ConfigurationManager.getInstance().readObject(IPlugInPort.HEARTBEAT, new Date());
+        long msSinceHeartbeat = new Date().getTime() - lastHeartbeat.getTime();
         File autoSaved = new File(AUTO_SAVE_FILE_NAME);
         if (autoSaved.exists())
-          if (wasAbnormal) {
+          // try to figure out if another instance is running. Only pull auto-saved file if there's no recent heartbeat 
+          if (wasAbnormal && msSinceHeartbeat > autoSaveFrequency) {
             IPlugInPort testPresenter = new Presenter(new DummyView());
             testPresenter.loadProjectFromFile(AUTO_SAVE_FILE_NAME);
             // Only prompt if there is something saved in the
@@ -51,7 +55,7 @@ public class AutoSavePlugin implements IPlugIn {
             if (!testPresenter.getCurrentProject().getComponents().isEmpty()) {
               int decision =
                   view.showConfirmDialog(
-                      "It appears that aplication was not closed normally in the previous session. Do you want to open the last auto-saved file?",
+                      "It appears that application was not closed normally in the previous session. Do you want to open the last auto-saved file?",
                       "Auto-Save", IView.YES_NO_OPTION, IView.QUESTION_MESSAGE);
               if (decision == IView.YES_OPTION) {
                 AutoSavePlugin.this.plugInPort.loadProjectFromFile(AUTO_SAVE_FILE_NAME);
@@ -64,6 +68,18 @@ public class AutoSavePlugin implements IPlugIn {
         ConfigurationManager.getInstance().writeValue(IPlugInPort.ABNORMAL_EXIT_KEY, true);
       }
     });
+    // write heartbeat periodically
+    new Thread(new Runnable() {
+
+      @Override
+      public void run() {
+        try {
+          Thread.sleep(autoSaveFrequency);
+        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
+        }
+        ConfigurationManager.getInstance().writeValue(IPlugInPort.HEARTBEAT, new Date());
+      }
+    }).start();
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/update.xml b/diylc/diylc-swing/update.xml
index 0f682498..536a0303 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/update.xml
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/update.xml
@@ -1822,6 +1822,10 @@
 					<changeType>NEW_FEATURE</changeType>
 					<description>Using right click to draw a selection rectangle doesn't move objects under the cursor (useful for selecting multiple components that have a big board below)</description>
 				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>	
+				<org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
+					<changeType>BUG_FIX</changeType>
+					<description>Auto-save dialog pops up when running multiple instances of the app at the same time</description>
+				</org.diylc.appframework.update.Change>
 			</changes>
 			<url>https://github.com/bancika/diy-layout-creator/releases</url>
 		</org.diylc.appframework.update.Version>