diff --git a/src/dnsmasq.c b/src/dnsmasq.c
index 0908858..9ac5217 100644
--- a/src/dnsmasq.c
+++ b/src/dnsmasq.c
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
      This might be increased is EDNS packet size if greater than the minimum. */ 
   daemon->packet_buff_sz = daemon->edns_pktsz + MAXDNAME + RRFIXEDSZ;
   daemon->packet = safe_malloc(daemon->packet_buff_sz);
+  daemon->pipe_to_parent = -1;
   
   if (option_bool(OPT_EXTRALOG))
     daemon->addrbuff2 = safe_malloc(ADDRSTRLEN);
@@ -1080,8 +1081,6 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
   
   pid = getpid();
 
-  daemon->pipe_to_parent = -1;
-
 #ifdef HAVE_INOTIFY
   /* Using inotify, have to select a resolv file at startup */
   poll_resolv(1, 0, now);
diff --git a/src/netlink.c b/src/netlink.c
index 4c8e983..389325e 100644
--- a/src/netlink.c
+++ b/src/netlink.c
@@ -165,6 +165,13 @@ int iface_enumerate(int family, void *parm, callback_t callback)
     struct rtgenmsg g; 
   } req;
 
+  /* The netlink socket is not available in child processes. */
+  if (daemon->pipe_to_parent != -1)
+    {
+      my_syslog(LOG_ERR, _("BUG: called iface_enumerate() in child process"));
+      return 0;
+    }
+  
   memset(&req, 0, sizeof(req));
   memset(&addr, 0, sizeof(addr));