diff --git a/libs/main/system/piprocess.cpp b/libs/main/system/piprocess.cpp
index ffa6a871..115b9a69 100644
--- a/libs/main/system/piprocess.cpp
+++ b/libs/main/system/piprocess.cpp
@@ -319,6 +319,13 @@ void PIProcess::startProc(bool detached) {
 	auto largs = convertToCharArrays(args);
 	auto lenv  = convertToCharArrays(env);
 	int pid_   = fork();
+	if (pid_ < 0) {
+		piCoutObj << "\"fork\" error: " << errorString();
+		PRIVATE->closeAllPipes();
+		delete[] largs;
+		delete[] lenv;
+		return;
+	}
 	if (!detached) PRIVATE->pid = pid_;
 	if (pid_ == 0) {
 		if (!wd.isEmpty()) {