diff --git a/init/reboot.c b/init/reboot.c
index 74d2cf6..35c147b 100644
--- a/init/reboot.c
+++ b/init/reboot.c
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@
 {
 #ifdef BB_FEATURE_LINUXRC
 	/* don't assume init's pid == 1 */
-	return(kill(*(find_pid_by_name("init")), SIGTERM));
+	pid_t *pid = find_pid_by_name("init");
+	if (!pid || *pid<=0)
+		error_msg_and_die("no process killed");
+	return(kill(*pid, SIGTERM));
 #else
 	return(kill(1, SIGTERM));
 #endif