diff --git a/kuser/kinit.c b/kuser/kinit.c
index 7482cb3b4..017b120de 100644
--- a/kuser/kinit.c
+++ b/kuser/kinit.c
@@ -1324,7 +1324,8 @@ handler(int sig)
         iov[1].iov_base = "\n";
         iov[1].iov_len = 1;
 
-        writev(STDERR_FILENO, iov, sizeof(iov)/sizeof(iov[0]));
+        if (writev(STDERR_FILENO, iov, sizeof(iov)/sizeof(iov[0])) == -1) {
+        }
     } /* else ignore interrupts; our progeny will not ignore them */
 }
 #endif