diff --git a/lix/libutil/processes.cc b/lix/libutil/processes.cc
index 0d709ad16..7bfaa7acc 100644
--- a/lix/libutil/processes.cc
+++ b/lix/libutil/processes.cc
@@ -350,6 +350,9 @@ RunningProgram runProgram2(const RunOptions & options)
     /* Fork. */
     Pid pid{startProcess(
         [&]() {
+            if (options.createSession && setsid() == -1) {
+                throw SysError("setsid");
+            }
             if (options.environment) {
                 replaceEnv(*options.environment);
             }
diff --git a/lix/libutil/processes.hh b/lix/libutil/processes.hh
index 7e05f607d..568c66cdb 100644
--- a/lix/libutil/processes.hh
+++ b/lix/libutil/processes.hh
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ struct RunOptions
     std::optional<std::map<std::string, std::string>> environment = {};
     bool dieWithParent = true;
     bool captureStdout = false;
+    bool createSession = false;
     std::vector<Redirection> redirections;
 #if __linux__
     std::set<long> caps;