diff --git a/include/mpm_common.h b/include/mpm_common.h
index bc4480a..27b3178 100644
--- a/include/mpm_common.h
+++ b/include/mpm_common.h
@@ -350,6 +350,14 @@
                                              const char *arg);
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * The parent process pid table
+ */
+extern apr_table_t *ap_pid_table;
+int ap_in_pid_table(pid_t pid);
+void ap_set_pid_table(pid_t pid);
+void ap_unset_pid_table(pid_t pid);
+
 AP_DECLARE_HOOK(int,monitor,(apr_pool_t *p))
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/server/main.c b/server/main.c
index 29557f2..57e9ba1 100644
--- a/server/main.c
+++ b/server/main.c
@@ -460,6 +460,7 @@
     ap_server_pre_read_config  = apr_array_make(pcommands, 1, sizeof(char *));
     ap_server_post_read_config = apr_array_make(pcommands, 1, sizeof(char *));
     ap_server_config_defines   = apr_array_make(pcommands, 1, sizeof(char *));
+    ap_pid_table               = apr_table_make(pglobal, 1024);
 
     error = ap_setup_prelinked_modules(process);
     if (error) {
diff --git a/server/mpm/beos/mpm.h b/server/mpm/beos/mpm.h
index d61594b..cadf365 100644
--- a/server/mpm/beos/mpm.h
+++ b/server/mpm/beos/mpm.h
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@
 
 #define MPM_NAME "Beos"
 #define MPM_CHILD_PID(i) (ap_scoreboard_image->servers[0][i].tid)
-#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) (MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0)
+#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) do {         \
+        ap_unset_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(i)); \
+        MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0;                 \
+    } while(0) 
 
 #define AP_MPM_WANT_RECLAIM_CHILD_PROCESSES
 #define AP_MPM_WANT_WAIT_OR_TIMEOUT
diff --git a/server/mpm/experimental/event/event.c b/server/mpm/experimental/event/event.c
index e105c25..c7c5bbb 100644
--- a/server/mpm/experimental/event/event.c
+++ b/server/mpm/experimental/event/event.c
@@ -1582,6 +1582,7 @@
     /* else */
     ap_scoreboard_image->parent[slot].quiescing = 0;
     ap_scoreboard_image->parent[slot].pid = pid;
+    ap_set_pid_table(pid);
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1999,10 +2000,12 @@
             active_children = 0;
             for (index = 0; index < ap_daemons_limit; ++index) {
                 if (MPM_CHILD_PID(index) != 0) {
-                    if (kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), 0) == 0) {
+                    if (ap_in_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(index))) {
+                        if (kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), 0) == 0) {
                             active_children = 1;
                             /* Having just one child is enough to stay around */
                             break;
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/server/mpm/experimental/event/mpm.h b/server/mpm/experimental/event/mpm.h
index cf4e61d..c2731af 100644
--- a/server/mpm/experimental/event/mpm.h
+++ b/server/mpm/experimental/event/mpm.h
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
 #define AP_MPM_DISABLE_NAGLE_ACCEPTED_SOCK
 
 #define MPM_CHILD_PID(i) (ap_scoreboard_image->parent[i].pid)
-#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) (MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0)
+#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) do {         \
+        ap_unset_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(i)); \
+        MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0;                 \
+    } while(0) 
 #define MPM_ACCEPT_FUNC unixd_accept
 
 extern int ap_threads_per_child;
diff --git a/server/mpm/mpmt_os2/mpm.h b/server/mpm/mpmt_os2/mpm.h
index f8bbc30..e324d79 100644
--- a/server/mpm/mpmt_os2/mpm.h
+++ b/server/mpm/mpmt_os2/mpm.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "httpd.h"
 #include "mpm_default.h"
 #include "scoreboard.h"
+#include "mpm_common.h"
 
 #define MPM_NAME "MPMT_OS2"
 
diff --git a/server/mpm/mpmt_os2/mpmt_os2.c b/server/mpm/mpmt_os2/mpmt_os2.c
index b3a83c4..cb6ecc1 100644
--- a/server/mpm/mpmt_os2/mpmt_os2.c
+++ b/server/mpm/mpmt_os2/mpmt_os2.c
@@ -281,6 +281,7 @@
 #endif
     if (one_process) {
         ap_scoreboard_image->parent[0].pid = getpid();
+        ap_set_pid_table(getpid());
         ap_mpm_child_main(pconf);
         return FALSE;
     }
@@ -307,6 +308,7 @@
         rc = DosWaitChild(DCWA_PROCESSTREE, DCWW_NOWAIT, &proc_rc, &child_pid, 0);
 
         if (rc == 0) {
+            ap_unset_pid_table(child_pid);
             /* A child has terminated, remove its scoreboard entry & terminate if necessary */
             for (slot=0; ap_scoreboard_image->parent[slot].pid != child_pid && slot < HARD_SERVER_LIMIT; slot++);
 
@@ -330,7 +332,13 @@
 
     /* Signal children to shut down, either gracefully or immediately */
     for (slot=0; slot<HARD_SERVER_LIMIT; slot++) {
-      kill(ap_scoreboard_image->parent[slot].pid, is_graceful ? SIGHUP : SIGTERM);
+        PID pid;
+
+        pid = ap_scoreboard_image->parent[n].pid;
+        if (ap_in_pid_table(pid)) {
+            kill(pid, is_graceful ? SIGHUP : SIGTERM);
+            ap_unset_pid_table(pid);
+        }
     }
 
     DosFreeMem(parent_info);
@@ -364,6 +372,7 @@
     }
 
     ap_scoreboard_image->parent[slot].pid = proc_rc.codeTerminate;
+    ap_set_pid_table(proc_rc.codeTerminate);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/server/mpm/netware/mpm.h b/server/mpm/netware/mpm.h
index 106d62a..93f1824 100644
--- a/server/mpm/netware/mpm.h
+++ b/server/mpm/netware/mpm.h
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@
 */
 
 #define MPM_CHILD_PID(i) (ap_scoreboard_image->parent[i].pid)
-#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) (MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0)
+#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) do {         \
+        ap_unset_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(i)); \
+        MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0;                 \
+    } while(0) 
 
 extern int ap_threads_per_child;
 extern int ap_max_workers_limit;
diff --git a/server/mpm/prefork/mpm.h b/server/mpm/prefork/mpm.h
index bf1fb94..51743d2 100644
--- a/server/mpm/prefork/mpm.h
+++ b/server/mpm/prefork/mpm.h
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@
 
 #define AP_MPM_USES_POD 1
 #define MPM_CHILD_PID(i) (ap_scoreboard_image->parent[i].pid)
-#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) (MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0)
+#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) do {         \
+        ap_unset_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(i)); \
+        MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0;                 \
+    } while(0) 
 #define MPM_ACCEPT_FUNC unixd_accept
 
 extern int ap_threads_per_child;
diff --git a/server/mpm/prefork/prefork.c b/server/mpm/prefork/prefork.c
index ba50581..8c2a137 100644
--- a/server/mpm/prefork/prefork.c
+++ b/server/mpm/prefork/prefork.c
@@ -306,13 +306,18 @@
     int n, pid;
 
     for (n = 0; n < ap_max_daemons_limit; ++n) {
-        if (ap_scoreboard_image->servers[n][0].status != SERVER_DEAD &&
-                kill((pid = ap_scoreboard_image->parent[n].pid), 0) == -1) {
-            ap_update_child_status_from_indexes(n, 0, SERVER_DEAD, NULL);
-            /* just mark it as having a successful exit status */
-            *status = APR_PROC_EXIT;
-            *exitcode = 0;
-            return(pid);
+        pid = ap_scoreboard_image->parent[n].pid;
+        if (ap_scoreboard_image->servers[n][0].status != SERVER_DEAD) {
+            if (ap_in_pid_table(pid)) {
+                if (kill(pid, 0) == -1) {
+                    ap_update_child_status_from_indexes(n, 0, SERVER_DEAD, NULL);
+                    /* just mark it as having a successful exit status */
+                    *status = APR_PROC_EXIT;
+                    *exitcode = 0;
+                    ap_unset_pid_table(pid);
+                    return(pid);
+                }
+            }
         }
     }
     return 0;
@@ -737,6 +742,7 @@
     }
 
     ap_scoreboard_image->parent[slot].pid = pid;
+    ap_set_pid_table(pid);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -1127,8 +1133,10 @@
         for (index = 0; index < ap_daemons_limit; ++index) {
             if (ap_scoreboard_image->servers[index][0].status != SERVER_DEAD) {
                 /* Ask each child to close its listeners. */
-                kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), AP_SIG_GRACEFUL);
-                active_children++;
+                if (ap_in_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(index))) {
+                    kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), AP_SIG_GRACEFUL);
+                    active_children++;
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -1166,10 +1174,12 @@
             active_children = 0;
             for (index = 0; index < ap_daemons_limit; ++index) {
                 if (MPM_CHILD_PID(index) != 0) {
-                    if (kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), 0) == 0) {
+                    if (ap_in_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(index))) {
+                        if (kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), 0) == 0) {
                             active_children = 1;
                             /* Having just one child is enough to stay around */
                             break;
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -1222,7 +1232,9 @@
                  * piped loggers, etc. They almost certainly won't handle
                  * it gracefully.
                  */
-                kill(ap_scoreboard_image->parent[index].pid, AP_SIG_GRACEFUL);
+                if (ap_in_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(index))) {
+                    kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), AP_SIG_GRACEFUL);
+                }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/server/mpm/worker/mpm.h b/server/mpm/worker/mpm.h
index 335f4b6..a8585d3 100644
--- a/server/mpm/worker/mpm.h
+++ b/server/mpm/worker/mpm.h
@@ -50,7 +50,10 @@
 #define AP_MPM_DISABLE_NAGLE_ACCEPTED_SOCK
 
 #define MPM_CHILD_PID(i) (ap_scoreboard_image->parent[i].pid)
-#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) (MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0)
+#define MPM_NOTE_CHILD_KILLED(i) do {         \
+        ap_unset_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(i)); \
+        MPM_CHILD_PID(i) = 0;                 \
+    } while(0) 
 #define MPM_ACCEPT_FUNC unixd_accept
 
 extern int ap_threads_per_child;
diff --git a/server/mpm/worker/worker.c b/server/mpm/worker/worker.c
index a9d822f..eba49ef 100644
--- a/server/mpm/worker/worker.c
+++ b/server/mpm/worker/worker.c
@@ -1360,6 +1360,8 @@
     }
     ap_scoreboard_image->parent[slot].quiescing = 0;
     ap_scoreboard_image->parent[slot].pid = pid;
+    ap_set_pid_table(pid);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1590,6 +1592,7 @@
                                                         (request_rec *) NULL);
 
                 ap_scoreboard_image->parent[child_slot].pid = 0;
+                ap_unset_pid_table(pid.pid);
                 ap_scoreboard_image->parent[child_slot].quiescing = 0;
                 if (processed_status == APEXIT_CHILDSICK) {
                     /* resource shortage, minimize the fork rate */
@@ -1814,10 +1817,12 @@
             active_children = 0;
             for (index = 0; index < ap_daemons_limit; ++index) {
                 if (MPM_CHILD_PID(index) != 0) {
-                    if (kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), 0) == 0) {
+                    if (ap_in_pid_table(MPM_CHILD_PID(index))) {
+                        if (kill(MPM_CHILD_PID(index), 0) == 0) {
                             active_children = 1;
                             /* Having just one child is enough to stay around */
                             break;
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/server/mpm_common.c b/server/mpm_common.c
index c654cbf..a99f6b1 100644
--- a/server/mpm_common.c
+++ b/server/mpm_common.c
@@ -86,6 +86,41 @@
 
 static extra_process_t *extras;
 
+/*
+ * Parent process local storage of child pids
+ */
+apr_table_t *ap_pid_table;
+
+/*
+ * Check the pid table to see if the actual pid exists
+ */
+int ap_in_pid_table(pid_t pid) {
+    char apid[64];
+    const char *spid;
+    apr_snprintf(apid, sizeof(apid), "%" APR_PID_T_FMT, pid);
+    spid = apr_table_get(ap_pid_table, apid);
+    if (spid && spid[0] == '1' && spid[1] == '\0')
+        return 1;
+    else {
+        ap_log_error(APLOG_MARK, APLOG_ERR, 0, ap_server_conf,
+                     "child process %" APR_PID_T_FMT
+                     " does not exist in local pid table", pid);
+        return 0;
+    }
+}
+
+void ap_set_pid_table(pid_t pid) {
+    char apid[64];
+    apr_snprintf(apid, sizeof(apid), "%" APR_PID_T_FMT, pid);
+    apr_table_set(ap_pid_table, apid, "1");
+}
+
+void ap_unset_pid_table(pid_t pid) {
+    char apid[64];
+    apr_snprintf(apid, sizeof(apid), "%" APR_PID_T_FMT, pid);
+    apr_table_unset(ap_pid_table, apid);
+}
+
 void ap_register_extra_mpm_process(pid_t pid)
 {
     extra_process_t *p = (extra_process_t *)malloc(sizeof(extra_process_t));
@@ -113,6 +148,7 @@
             extras = cur->next;
         }
         free(cur);
+        ap_unset_pid_table(pid);
         return 1; /* found */
     }
     else {
@@ -127,6 +163,9 @@
     apr_status_t waitret;
 
     proc.pid = pid;
+    if (!ap_in_pid_table(pid)) {
+        return 0;
+    }
     waitret = apr_proc_wait(&proc, NULL, NULL, APR_NOWAIT);
     if (waitret != APR_CHILD_NOTDONE) {
         return 1;
diff --git a/server/scoreboard.c b/server/scoreboard.c
index 9cb7359..bc3d5cd 100644
--- a/server/scoreboard.c
+++ b/server/scoreboard.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "ap_mpm.h"
 
 #include "mpm.h"
+#include "mpm_common.h"
 #include "scoreboard.h"
 
 AP_DECLARE_DATA scoreboard *ap_scoreboard_image = NULL;
@@ -364,7 +365,8 @@
     ap_mpm_query(AP_MPMQ_MAX_DAEMONS, &max_daemons_limit);
 
     for (i = 0; i < max_daemons_limit; ++i) {
-        if (ap_scoreboard_image->parent[i].pid == pid->pid) {
+        if (ap_scoreboard_image->parent[i].pid == pid->pid &&
+            ap_in_pid_table(pid->pid)) {
             return i;
         }
     }