diff --git a/init/src/main.rs b/init/src/main.rs
index 5682cf44..4501cf61 100644
--- a/init/src/main.rs
+++ b/init/src/main.rs
@@ -178,7 +178,15 @@ fn main() {
     libredox::call::setrens(0, 0).expect("init: failed to enter null namespace");
 
     loop {
+        // Process any pending jobs whose dependencies may now be satisfied.
+        scheduler.step(&mut unit_store, &mut init_config);
+
+        // Non-blocking wait: WNOHANG = 1.  Reap any exited children without
+        // blocking, then loop back to process any newly-unblocked pending jobs.
         let mut status = 0;
-        libredox::call::waitpid(0, &mut status, 0).unwrap();
+        match libredox::call::waitpid(0, &mut status, 1) {
+            Ok(_pid) => {}
+            Err(err) => eprintln!("init: waitpid error: {err}"),
+        }
     }
 }