diff --git a/Utility/Daemon.hs b/Utility/Daemon.hs
index 39c42bf53c..23d18d2b60 100644
--- a/Utility/Daemon.hs
+++ b/Utility/Daemon.hs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ daemonize logfd pidfile changedirectory a = do
 	checkalreadyrunning f = maybe noop (const alreadyRunning) 
 		=<< checkDaemon f
 	child1 = do
-		_ <- createSession
+		_ <- tryIO createSession
 		_ <- forkProcess child2
 		out
 	child2 = do
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ daemonize logfd pidfile changedirectory a = do
 foreground :: Fd -> Maybe FilePath -> IO () -> IO ()
 foreground logfd pidfile a = do
 	maybe noop lockPidFile pidfile
-	_ <- createSession
+	_ <- tryIO createSession
 	redirLog logfd
 	a
 	exitImmediately ExitSuccess
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index f0088cb2aa..7749953c1f 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+git-annex (5.20140607) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
+
+  * Ignore setsid failures.
+
+ -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:44:09 -0400
+
 git-annex (5.20140606) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * webapp: When adding a new local repository, fix bug that caused its
diff --git a/doc/bugs/git-annex:_createSession:_permission_denied___40__Operation_not_permitted__41__.mdwn b/doc/bugs/git-annex:_createSession:_permission_denied___40__Operation_not_permitted__41__.mdwn
index 72499ffa34..279ca3a3bf 100644
--- a/doc/bugs/git-annex:_createSession:_permission_denied___40__Operation_not_permitted__41__.mdwn
+++ b/doc/bugs/git-annex:_createSession:_permission_denied___40__Operation_not_permitted__41__.mdwn
@@ -29,3 +29,5 @@ WebApp crashed: createSession: permission denied (Operation not permitted)
 $
 # End of transcript or log.
 """]]
+
+> provisionally fixed; [[done]] --[[Joey]]