diff --git a/cpuplugd/cpuplugd.h b/cpuplugd/cpuplugd.h
index 5c847d6f..673054ef 100644
--- a/cpuplugd/cpuplugd.h
+++ b/cpuplugd/cpuplugd.h
@@ -197,10 +197,10 @@ int is_online(int cpuid);
 long get_cmmpages_size();
 void parse_options(int argc, char **argv);
 void check_if_started_twice();
-void store_pid(void);
 void handle_signals(void);
 void handle_sighup(void);
 void reload_daemon(void);
+int daemonize(void);
 int check_cmmfiles(void);
 void check_config();
 void set_cmm_pages(long size);
diff --git a/cpuplugd/daemon.c b/cpuplugd/daemon.c
index f02a55d7..9820eba5 100644
--- a/cpuplugd/daemon.c
+++ b/cpuplugd/daemon.c
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
  * it under the terms of the MIT license. See LICENSE for details.
  */
 
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
 #include "cpuplugd.h"
 
 const char *name = NAME;
@@ -49,7 +53,7 @@ void print_version()
 /*
  * Store daemon's pid so it can be stopped
  */
-void store_pid(void)
+static int store_pid(void)
 {
 	FILE *filp;
 
@@ -57,10 +61,62 @@ void store_pid(void)
 	if (!filp) {
 		cpuplugd_error("cannot open pid file %s: %s\n", pid_file,
 			       strerror(errno));
-		exit(1);
+		return -1;
 	}
 	fprintf(filp, "%d\n", getpid());
 	fclose(filp);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Run daemon in background and write pid file
+ */
+int daemonize(void)
+{
+	int fd, pipe_fds[2], startup_rc = 1;
+	pid_t pid;
+
+	if (pipe(pipe_fds) == -1) {
+		cpuplugd_error("cannot create pipe\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+	pid = fork();
+	if (pid < 0)
+		goto close_pipe;
+	if (pid != 0) {
+		/* Wait for startup return code from daemon */
+		if (read(pipe_fds[0], &startup_rc, sizeof(startup_rc)) == -1)
+			cpuplugd_error("cannot read from pipe\n");
+		/* On success daemon has written pid file at this point */
+		exit(startup_rc);
+	}
+	/* Create new session */
+	if (setsid() < 0)
+		goto notify_parent;
+	/* Redirect stdin/out/err to /dev/null */
+	fd = open("/dev/null", O_RDWR, 0);
+	if (fd == -1)
+		goto notify_parent;
+	if (dup2(fd, STDIN_FILENO) < 0)
+		goto notify_parent;
+	if (dup2(fd, STDOUT_FILENO) < 0)
+		goto notify_parent;
+	if (dup2(fd, STDERR_FILENO) < 0)
+		goto notify_parent;
+	/* Create pid file */
+	if (store_pid() < 0)
+		goto notify_parent;
+	startup_rc = 0;
+notify_parent:
+	/* Inform waiting parent about startup return code */
+	if (write(pipe_fds[1], &startup_rc, sizeof(startup_rc)) == -1) {
+		cpuplugd_error("cannot write to pipe\n");
+		startup_rc = 1;
+	}
+close_pipe:
+	close(pipe_fds[0]);
+	close(pipe_fds[1]);
+	return startup_rc ? -1 : 0;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/cpuplugd/main.c b/cpuplugd/main.c
index 0f55a7fe..d889d0bc 100644
--- a/cpuplugd/main.c
+++ b/cpuplugd/main.c
@@ -418,13 +418,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	check_config();
 
 	if (!foreground) {
-		rc = daemon(1, 0);
+		rc = daemonize();
 		if (rc < 0)
 			cpuplugd_exit("Detach from terminal failed: %s\n",
 				      strerror(errno));
 	}
-	/* Store daemon pid */
-	store_pid();
 	/* Unlock lock file */
 	flock(fd, LOCK_UN);
 	close(fd);
diff --git a/systemd/cpuplugd.service.in b/systemd/cpuplugd.service.in
index 6724f2bd..0d657b00 100644
--- a/systemd/cpuplugd.service.in
+++ b/systemd/cpuplugd.service.in
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@ Documentation=man:cpuplugd(8) man:cpuplugd.conf(5)
 After=remote-fs.target
 
 [Service]
-ExecStart=@usrsbin_path@/cpuplugd -f -c @sysconf_path@/cpuplugd.conf
+ExecStart=@usrsbin_path@/cpuplugd -c @sysconf_path@/cpuplugd.conf
 ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID
 KillMode=process
-Type=simple
+Type=forking
+PIDFile=/var/run/cpuplugd.pid
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=multi-user.target