diff --git a/adb/shell_service.cpp b/adb/shell_service.cpp
index 95fd49b74..ce107084c 100644
--- a/adb/shell_service.cpp
+++ b/adb/shell_service.cpp
@@ -284,7 +284,9 @@ bool Subprocess::ForkAndExec(std::string* error) {
     if (type_ == SubprocessType::kPty) {
         int fd;
         pid_ = forkpty(&fd, pts_name, nullptr, nullptr);
-        stdinout_sfd_.Reset(fd);
+        if (pid_ > 0) {
+          stdinout_sfd_.Reset(fd);
+        }
     } else {
         if (!CreateSocketpair(&stdinout_sfd_, &child_stdinout_sfd)) {
             *error = android::base::StringPrintf("failed to create socketpair for stdin/out: %s",