diff --git a/kernel/arch/i386/exception.c b/kernel/arch/i386/exception.c
index eed02883e..dfbdbd383 100644
--- a/kernel/arch/i386/exception.c
+++ b/kernel/arch/i386/exception.c
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #include "kernel/proto.h"
 #include <machine/vm.h>
 
-extern int catch_pagefaults = 0;
+extern int catch_pagefaults;
 
 PRIVATE void pagefault( struct proc *pr,
 			struct exception_frame * frame,
diff --git a/kernel/arch/i386/memory.c b/kernel/arch/i386/memory.c
index 4f11d9e80..cdff15981 100644
--- a/kernel/arch/i386/memory.c
+++ b/kernel/arch/i386/memory.c
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ PUBLIC void vm_init(struct proc *newptproc)
 	write_cr3(0);
 	switch_address_space(newptproc);
 	assert(ptproc == newptproc);
+	catch_pagefaults = 0;
 	vm_enable_paging();
 	vm_running = 1;
 }