diff --git a/dwm.c b/dwm.c
index 212c6ba..3f45aab 100644
--- a/dwm.c
+++ b/dwm.c
@@ -1654,10 +1654,16 @@ void
 spawn(const Arg *arg)
 {
 	struct sigaction sa;
+	pid_t pid;
 
 	if (arg->v == dmenucmd)
 		dmenumon[0] = '0' + selmon->num;
-	if (fork() == 0) {
+
+	if ((pid = fork()) == -1) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "dwm: fork failed: %s\n", strerror(errno));
+		return;
+	}
+	if (pid == 0) {
 		if (dpy)
 			close(ConnectionNumber(dpy));
 		setsid();