diff --git a/init/init.c b/init/init.c
index 7ab50cffe..013f55c68 100644
--- a/init/init.c
+++ b/init/init.c
@@ -1061,6 +1061,7 @@ extern int init_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	signal(SIGCONT, cont_handler);
 	signal(SIGSTOP, stop_handler);
 	signal(SIGTSTP, stop_handler);
+	signal(SIGCHLD, SIG_IGN);
 
 	/* Turn off rebooting via CTL-ALT-DEL -- we get a 
 	 * SIGINT on CAD so we can shut things down gracefully... */