diff --git a/init/init.c b/init/init.c
index 657bad6cd..7e24eacdd 100644
--- a/init/init.c
+++ b/init/init.c
@@ -825,6 +825,13 @@ static void cont_handler(int sig)
 	got_cont = 1;
 }
 
+/* Reap any zombie processes that are reparented to init */
+static void child_handler(int sig)
+{
+	int status;
+	while ( wait3(&status, WNOHANG, NULL) > 0 );
+}
+
 #endif							/* ! DEBUG_INIT */
 
 static void new_init_action(int action, char *command, const char *cons)
@@ -1065,6 +1072,7 @@ extern int init_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	signal(SIGCONT, cont_handler);
 	signal(SIGSTOP, stop_handler);
 	signal(SIGTSTP, stop_handler);
+	signal(SIGCHLD, child_handler);
 
 	/* Turn off rebooting via CTL-ALT-DEL -- we get a 
 	 * SIGINT on CAD so we can shut things down gracefully... */