diff --git a/utils/init.cpp b/utils/init.cpp
index 4b7df9cc..fa67ebee 100644
--- a/utils/init.cpp
+++ b/utils/init.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ int runsystem()
 		return status;
 	}
 
-	return child();
+	int ret = child();
+	while ( 0 < waitpid(-1, NULL, WNOHANG) );
+	return ret;
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
diff --git a/utils/mxsh.cpp b/utils/mxsh.cpp
index ba0c72ee..3233de6b 100644
--- a/utils/mxsh.cpp
+++ b/utils/mxsh.cpp
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ int runcommandline(const char** tokens)
 	bool internal;
 	int internalresult;
 readcmd:
+	// Collect any pending zombie processes.
+	while ( 0 < waitpid(-1, NULL, WNOHANG) );
+
 	cmdstart = cmdnext;
 	for ( cmdend = cmdstart; true; cmdend++ )
 	{