Author: Stefan Achatz
https://sourceforge.net/p/hptalx/patches/5/

--- a/src/kermit.c
+++ b/src/kermit.c
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ static k_status     _k_parent (const k_params * params);
 static              k_status
 _k_parent (const k_params * params)
 {
+	pid_t pid;
+	int status;
 
 	if (fcntl (g_master_fld, F_SETFL, O_NONBLOCK) == -1)
 		return K_FCNTL;
@@ -107,6 +109,16 @@ _k_parent (const k_params * params)
 	 */
 	k_errno = k_discard_output ();
 
+	/*
+	 * _k_parent() gets called only and immediately after forking child.
+	 * All file descriptor parameters are set and the first read took place.
+	 * If child exited already with an error kermit might not have been found.
+	 */
+	pid = waitpid(g_child, &status, WNOHANG);
+	if (pid && WIFEXITED(status) && WEXITSTATUS(status) == 2) {
+		return k_errno = K_EXECKERMIT;
+	}
+
 	k_errno = k_send_command (K_CMD_SET_PROMPT);
 	k_errno = k_discard_output ();
 
@@ -165,7 +177,6 @@ k_connect (const k_params * params)
 		tcsetattr (g_master_fld, TCSANOW, &term_cap);
 		return _k_parent (params);
 	}
-	return k_errno = K_UNKNOWN;
 }
 
 k_status