diff --git a/criu/tty.c b/criu/tty.c
index e9b2d47b1..a7f684627 100644
--- a/criu/tty.c
+++ b/criu/tty.c
@@ -689,7 +689,6 @@ static int tty_set_sid(int fd)
 
 static int tty_set_prgp(int fd, int group)
 {
-
 	if (ioctl(fd, TIOCSPGRP, &group)) {
 #if 1
 		if (tolerate_tty_error(fd)) {
@@ -1066,7 +1065,9 @@ static int pty_open_unpaired_slave(struct file_desc *d, struct tty_info *slave)
 		 * the process which keeps the master peer.
 		 */
 		if (root_item->sid != vpid(root_item)) {
-			if (root_item->pgid == vpid(root_item)) {
+			if (getppid() != tcgetpgrp(0)) {
+				pr_debug("Running in background, not setting foreground process");
+			} else if (root_item->pgid == vpid(root_item)) {
 				if (tty_set_prgp(fd, root_item->pgid))
 					goto err;
 			} else {