diff --git a/classpath/java/lang/Runtime.java b/classpath/java/lang/Runtime.java
index bf80507deb..88c8ba71e3 100644
--- a/classpath/java/lang/Runtime.java
+++ b/classpath/java/lang/Runtime.java
@@ -149,7 +149,9 @@ public class Runtime {
     }
 
     public void destroy() {
-      kill(pid);
+			if (pid != 0) {
+      	kill(pid);
+			}
     }
 
     public InputStream getInputStream() {