diff --git a/Dockerfile.in b/Dockerfile.in
index 5d49aeb..7ebdcf5 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.in
+++ b/Dockerfile.in
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 
 FROM {ARG_FROM}
 
-MAINTAINER Tim Hockin <thockin@google.com>
-
 RUN apt-get update \
     && apt-get -y install \
         ca-certificates \
diff --git a/cmd/git-sync/main.go b/cmd/git-sync/main.go
index cb2292e..2b62846 100644
--- a/cmd/git-sync/main.go
+++ b/cmd/git-sync/main.go
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-logr/glogr"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus/promhttp"
+	"k8s.io/git-sync/pkg/pid1"
 	"k8s.io/git-sync/pkg/version"
 )
 
@@ -184,6 +185,20 @@ func envDuration(key string, def time.Duration) time.Duration {
 }
 
 func main() {
+	// In case we come up as pid 1, act as init.
+	if os.Getpid() == 1 {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "INFO: detected pid 1, running init handler\n")
+		err := pid1.ReRun()
+		if err == nil {
+			os.Exit(0)
+		}
+		if exerr, ok := err.(*exec.ExitError); ok {
+			os.Exit(exerr.ExitCode())
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: unhandled pid1 error: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(127)
+	}
+
 	setFlagDefaults()
 
 	flag.Parse()
@@ -198,15 +213,18 @@ func main() {
 		flag.Usage()
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+
 	if *flDest == "" {
 		parts := strings.Split(strings.Trim(*flRepo, "/"), "/")
 		*flDest = parts[len(parts)-1]
 	}
+
 	if strings.Contains(*flDest, "/") {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: --dest must be a bare name\n")
 		flag.Usage()
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+
 	if _, err := exec.LookPath(*flGitCmd); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "ERROR: git executable %q not found: %v\n", *flGitCmd, err)
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/pkg/pid1/pid1.go b/pkg/pid1/pid1.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19cc84f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/pid1/pid1.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package pid1
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"os/signal"
+	"syscall"
+)
+
+// ReRun converts the current process into a bare-bones init, runs the current
+// commandline as a child process, and waits for it to complete.  The new child
+// process shares stdin/stdout/stderr with the parent.  When the child exits,
+// this will return the same value as exec.Command.Run(). If there is an error
+// in reaping children that this can not handle, it will panic.
+func ReRun() error {
+	bin, err := os.Readlink("/proc/self/exe")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	cmd := exec.Command(bin, os.Args[1:]...)
+	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	go runInit(cmd.Process.Pid)
+	return cmd.Wait()
+}
+
+// runInit runs a bare-bones init process.  This will never return.  In case of
+// truly unknown errors it will panic.
+func runInit(pid int) {
+	sigs := make(chan os.Signal, 8)
+	signal.Notify(sigs)
+	for sig := range sigs {
+		if sig == syscall.SIGCHLD {
+			sigchld()
+		} else {
+			// Pass it on to the real process.
+			syscall.Kill(pid, sig.(syscall.Signal))
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// sigchld handles a SIGCHLD.
+func sigchld() {
+	// Loop to handle multiple child processes.
+	for {
+		var status syscall.WaitStatus
+		pid, err := syscall.Wait4(-1, &status, syscall.WNOHANG, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("failed to wait4(): %v\n", err))
+		}
+		if pid <= 0 {
+			// No more children to reap.
+			break
+		}
+		// Must have found one, see if there are more.
+	}
+}