diff --git a/src/process.c b/src/process.c
index 09f87908a45..57105982c15 100644
--- a/src/process.c
+++ b/src/process.c
@@ -7179,6 +7179,8 @@ child_signal_init (void)
      exits.  */
   eassert (0 <= fds[0]);
   eassert (0 <= fds[1]);
+  if (fcntl (fds[0], F_SETFL, O_NONBLOCK) != 0)
+    emacs_perror ("fcntl");
   add_read_fd (fds[0], child_signal_read, NULL);
   fd_callback_info[fds[0]].flags &= ~KEYBOARD_FD;
   child_signal_read_fd = fds[0];