diff --git a/src/tar.c b/src/tar.c
index dbffc2a9..e10b8043 100644
--- a/src/tar.c
+++ b/src/tar.c
@@ -2454,10 +2454,10 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 
   obstack_init (&argv_stk);
 
-#ifdef SIGCHLD
+  /* Ensure default behavior for some signals */
+  signal (SIGPIPE, SIG_DFL);
   /* System V fork+wait does not work if SIGCHLD is ignored.  */
   signal (SIGCHLD, SIG_DFL);
-#endif
 
   /* Decode options.  */