1 files changed, 8 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/libbb/vfork_daemon_rexec.c b/libbb/vfork_daemon_rexec.c
index 37d4c274e..da0dc03e5 100644
--- a/libbb/vfork_daemon_rexec.c
+++ b/libbb/vfork_daemon_rexec.c
@@ -265,7 +265,14 @@ void FAST_FUNC bb_daemonize_or_rexec(int flags, char **argv)
                 close(2);
         }
 
-        fd = xopen(bb_dev_null, O_RDWR);
+        fd = open(bb_dev_null, O_RDWR);
+        if (fd < 0) {
+                /* NB: we can be called as bb_sanitize_stdio() from init
+                 * or mdev, and there /dev/null may legitimately not (yet) exist!
+                 * Do not use xopen above, but obtain _ANY_ open descriptor,
+                 * even bogus one as below. */
+                fd = xopen("/", O_RDONLY); /* don't believe this can fail */
+        }
 
         while ((unsigned)fd < 2)
                 fd = dup(fd); /* have 0,1,2 open at least to /dev/null */