diff --git a/die-with-parent.c b/die-with-parent.c
index 150e63c..57d5740 100644
--- a/die-with-parent.c
+++ b/die-with-parent.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *const *argv) {
     int signal_num = SIGHUP;
     bool no_search = false;
     bool had_error = false;
-    pid_t init_ppid = -1;
+    pid_t init_ppid = 0;
     int c;
     const char *old_posixly_correct = getenv("POSIXLY_CORRECT");
     putenv("POSIXLY_CORRECT=1");
@@ -180,12 +180,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *const *argv) {
         return 1;
     }
     // we now check if the parent exited before this point
-    pid_t new_ppid = getppid();
-    if (new_ppid != init_ppid) {
-        raise(signal_num);
-        // if we got here that means the signal in question was ignored which is
-        // probably what the user intended, so just go on with execing the new
-        // process
+    if (init_ppid > 0) {
+        pid_t new_ppid = getppid();
+        if (new_ppid != init_ppid) {
+            raise(signal_num);
+            // if we got here that means the signal in question was ignored
+            // which is probably what the user intended, so just go on with
+            // execing the new process
+        }
     }
     const char *func;
     if (no_search) {