diff --git a/init/builtins.cpp b/init/builtins.cpp
index 7715424f5..a70e86683 100644
--- a/init/builtins.cpp
+++ b/init/builtins.cpp
@@ -746,6 +746,7 @@ static Result<void> do_setrlimit(const BuiltinArguments& args) {
 static Result<void> do_start(const BuiltinArguments& args) {
     Service* svc = ServiceList::GetInstance().FindService(args[1]);
     if (!svc) return Error() << "service " << args[1] << " not found";
+    errno = 0;
     if (auto result = svc->Start(); !result.ok()) {
         return ErrorIgnoreEnoent() << "Could not start service: " << result.error();
     }