diff --git a/Lib/subprocess.py b/Lib/subprocess.py
index da0c31b6c93..5d0c5e668e3 100644
--- a/Lib/subprocess.py
+++ b/Lib/subprocess.py
@@ -1023,6 +1023,7 @@ def _execute_child(self, args, executable, preexec_fn, close_fds,
             data = os.read(errpipe_read, 1048576) # Exceptions limited to 1 MB
             os.close(errpipe_read)
             if data != "":
+                os.waitpid(self.pid, 0)
                 child_exception = pickle.loads(data)
                 raise child_exception