diff --git a/uvloop/handles/process.pyx b/uvloop/handles/process.pyx
index 261aa1f5..799e2957 100644
--- a/uvloop/handles/process.pyx
+++ b/uvloop/handles/process.pyx
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ cdef class UVProcess(UVHandle):
             self._finish_init()
 
             os_close(self._errpipe_write)
+            self._errpipe_write = -1
 
             if preexec_fn is not None:
                 errpipe_data = bytearray()