diff --git a/tractor/_forkserver_hackzorz.py b/tractor/_forkserver_hackzorz.py
index d04f262..ec60b5c 100644
--- a/tractor/_forkserver_hackzorz.py
+++ b/tractor/_forkserver_hackzorz.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ import selectors
 import warnings
 
 from multiprocessing import (
-    forkserver, semaphore_tracker, spawn, process, util
+    forkserver, semaphore_tracker, spawn, process, util,
+    connection
 )
 from multiprocessing.forkserver import (
         ForkServer, MAXFDS_TO_SEND
@@ -72,6 +73,64 @@ class PatchedForkServer(ForkServer):
                 os.close(child_r)
                 os.close(child_w)
 
+    def ensure_running(self):
+        '''Make sure that a fork server is running.
+
+        This can be called from any process.  Note that usually a child
+        process will just reuse the forkserver started by its parent, so
+        ensure_running() will do nothing.
+        '''
+        with self._lock:
+            semaphore_tracker.ensure_running()
+            if self._forkserver_pid is not None:
+                # forkserver was launched before, is it still running?
+                pid, status = os.waitpid(self._forkserver_pid, os.WNOHANG)
+                if not pid:
+                    # still alive
+                    return
+                # dead, launch it again
+                os.close(self._forkserver_alive_fd)
+                self._forkserver_address = None
+                self._forkserver_alive_fd = None
+                self._forkserver_pid = None
+
+            # XXX only thing that changed!
+            cmd = ('from tractor._forkserver_hackzorz import main; ' +
+                   'main(%d, %d, %r, **%r)')
+
+            if self._preload_modules:
+                desired_keys = {'main_path', 'sys_path'}
+                data = spawn.get_preparation_data('ignore')
+                data = {x: y for x, y in data.items() if x in desired_keys}
+            else:
+                data = {}
+
+            with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX) as listener:
+                address = connection.arbitrary_address('AF_UNIX')
+                listener.bind(address)
+                os.chmod(address, 0o600)
+                listener.listen()
+
+                # all client processes own the write end of the "alive" pipe;
+                # when they all terminate the read end becomes ready.
+                alive_r, alive_w = os.pipe()
+                try:
+                    fds_to_pass = [listener.fileno(), alive_r]
+                    cmd %= (listener.fileno(), alive_r, self._preload_modules,
+                            data)
+                    exe = spawn.get_executable()
+                    args = [exe] + util._args_from_interpreter_flags()
+                    args += ['-c', cmd]
+                    pid = util.spawnv_passfds(exe, args, fds_to_pass)
+                except:
+                    os.close(alive_w)
+                    raise
+                finally:
+                    os.close(alive_r)
+                self._forkserver_address = address
+                self._forkserver_alive_fd = alive_w
+                self._forkserver_pid = pid
+
 
 def main(listener_fd, alive_r, preload, main_path=None, sys_path=None):
     '''Run forkserver.'''
@@ -274,9 +333,9 @@ def override_stdlib():
     semaphore_tracker.getfd = _semaphore_tracker.getfd
 
     forkserver._forkserver = _forkserver
+    forkserver.ensure_running = _forkserver.ensure_running
     forkserver.main = main
     forkserver._serve_one = _serve_one
-    forkserver.ensure_running = _forkserver.ensure_running
     forkserver.get_inherited_fds = _forkserver.get_inherited_fds
     forkserver.connect_to_new_process = _forkserver.connect_to_new_process
     forkserver.set_forkserver_preload = _forkserver.set_forkserver_preload