diff --git a/sys/src/lib/posix/initlib.c b/sys/src/lib/posix/initlib.c
index c4951e9..164a56a 100644
--- a/sys/src/lib/posix/initlib.c
+++ b/sys/src/lib/posix/initlib.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 extern int *__libposix_errors_codes;
 extern WaitList **__libposix_wait_list;
+extern Child **__libposix_child_list;
 static int __initialized;
 
 static void
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ libposix_init(int argc, char *argv[], PosixInit init)
 	extern int *__libposix_sigchld_target_pid;
 
 	WaitList *wait_list;
+	Child *child_list;
 	int status;
 	int error_codes[ERRNO_LAST-ERRNO_FIRST];
 	unsigned char signals_to_code[256];
@@ -60,6 +62,10 @@ libposix_init(int argc, char *argv[], PosixInit init)
 	wait_list = nil;
 	__libposix_wait_list = &wait_list;
 
+	/* initialize child_list; used when SIGCHLD is enabled */
+	child_list = nil;
+	__libposix_wait_list = &child_list;
+
 	/* initialize signal handling */
 	memset(signals_to_code, 0, sizeof(signals_to_code));
 	memset(code_to_signal, 0, sizeof(code_to_signal));
diff --git a/sys/src/lib/posix/internal.h b/sys/src/lib/posix/internal.h
index a774050..7a1a546 100644
--- a/sys/src/lib/posix/internal.h
+++ b/sys/src/lib/posix/internal.h
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ struct WaitList
 	WaitList *next;
 };
 
+typedef struct Child Child;
+struct Child
+{
+	int pid;
+	Child *next;
+};
+
 extern void __libposix_files_check_conf(void);
 extern void __libposix_errors_check_conf(void);
 extern void __libposix_processes_check_conf(void);
diff --git a/sys/src/lib/posix/processes.c b/sys/src/lib/posix/processes.c
index 7f31113..27d7082 100644
--- a/sys/src/lib/posix/processes.c
+++ b/sys/src/lib/posix/processes.c
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 extern char **environ;
 
 WaitList **__libposix_wait_list;
+Child **__libposix_child_list;
+
 static PosixExitStatusTranslator __libposix_exit_status_translator;
 static int __libposix_wnohang;
 
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ __libposix_setup_new_process(void)
 {
 	/* reset wait list for the child */
 	*__libposix_wait_list = nil;
+	*__libposix_child_list = nil;
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/sys/src/lib/posix/sigchlds.c b/sys/src/lib/posix/sigchlds.c
index 1ea9640..8735f6e 100644
--- a/sys/src/lib/posix/sigchlds.c
+++ b/sys/src/lib/posix/sigchlds.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 /* rendezvous points */
 extern unsigned char *__signals_to_code_map;
 extern unsigned char *__code_to_signal_map;
+extern Child *__libposix_child_list;
 
 /* pointer to the pid to forward notes to */
 int *__libposix_sigchld_target_pid;