diff --git a/tests/test_process.py b/tests/test_process.py
index 7b06e76d..6b94297b 100644
--- a/tests/test_process.py
+++ b/tests/test_process.py
@@ -154,6 +154,63 @@ async def test():
             self.fail(
                 'exception in preexec_fn did not kill the child process')
 
+    def test_process_at_fork_hooks(self):
+        # Like CPython's subprocess, only run the os.register_at_fork()
+        # hooks when the child is going to run Python code (preexec_fn).
+        prog = textwrap.dedent("""\
+            import asyncio
+            import os
+            import sys
+            import uvloop
+
+            def hook(name):
+                return lambda: os.write(1, name.encode() + b'\\n')
+
+            async def main():
+                rfd, _ = os.pipe()
+                for name, kwargs in [
+                    ('default', {}),
+                    ('pass_fds', {'pass_fds': (rfd,)}),
+                    ('preexec_fn', {'preexec_fn': lambda: None}),
+                ]:
+                    print('=' + name, flush=True)
+                    proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+                        sys.executable, '-c', 'pass', **kwargs)
+                    await proc.wait()
+
+            os.register_at_fork(
+                before=hook('before'),
+                after_in_parent=hook('after_in_parent'),
+                after_in_child=hook('after_in_child'))
+
+            loop = NEW_LOOP
+            asyncio.set_event_loop(loop)
+            try:
+                loop.run_until_complete(main())
+            finally:
+                loop.close()
+        """)
+        if self.implementation == 'uvloop':
+            prog = prog.replace('NEW_LOOP', 'uvloop.new_event_loop()')
+        else:
+            prog = prog.replace('NEW_LOOP', 'asyncio.new_event_loop()')
+
+        out = subprocess.check_output(
+            [sys.executable, '-W', 'ignore', '-c', prog], timeout=60)
+
+        hooks = {}
+        for line in out.decode().splitlines():
+            if line.startswith('='):
+                section = hooks[line[1:]] = []
+            else:
+                section.append(line)
+
+        self.assertEqual(hooks['default'], [])
+        self.assertEqual(hooks['pass_fds'], [])
+        self.assertEqual(
+            sorted(hooks['preexec_fn']),
+            ['after_in_child', 'after_in_parent', 'before'])
+
     def test_process_executable_1(self):
         async def test():
             proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
diff --git a/uvloop/handles/process.pyx b/uvloop/handles/process.pyx
index 63b982ae..9b5da315 100644
--- a/uvloop/handles/process.pyx
+++ b/uvloop/handles/process.pyx
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ cdef class UVProcess(UVHandle):
         # add the write pipe last so we can close it early
         fds_to_close.append(self._errpipe_write)
         try:
-            os_set_inheritable(self._errpipe_write, True)
+            if preexec_fn is not None:
+                os_set_inheritable(self._errpipe_write, True)
 
             self._preexec_fn = preexec_fn
             self._restore_signals = restore_signals
@@ -91,9 +92,14 @@ cdef class UVProcess(UVHandle):
             loop.active_process_handler = self
             __forking = 1
             __forking_loop = loop
-            system.setForkHandler(<system.OnForkHandler>&__get_fork_handler)
 
-            PyOS_BeforeFork()
+            if preexec_fn is not None:
+                # Like CPython's _posixsubprocess, only prepare the
+                # interpreter for a fork (and run the os.register_at_fork()
+                # hooks) when the child is going to run Python code.
+                system.setForkHandler(
+                    <system.OnForkHandler>&__get_fork_handler)
+                PyOS_BeforeFork()
 
             err = uv.uv_spawn(loop.uvloop,
                               <uv.uv_process_t*>self._handle,
@@ -104,7 +110,8 @@ cdef class UVProcess(UVHandle):
             system.resetForkHandler()
             loop.active_process_handler = None
 
-            PyOS_AfterFork_Parent()
+            if preexec_fn is not None:
+                PyOS_AfterFork_Parent()
 
             if err < 0:
                 self._close_process_handle()