diff --git a/kernel/init.c b/kernel/init.c
index 2a28defaff..3b23cc223d 100644
--- a/kernel/init.c
+++ b/kernel/init.c
@@ -138,3 +138,26 @@ int create_stdio(const char *file) {
     current->files->files[2] = fd_retain(fd);
     return 0;
 }
+
+static struct fd *open_fd_from_actual_fd(int actual_fd) {
+    int fd_no = actual_fd;
+    if (fd_no < 0)
+        return ERR_PTR(errno_map());
+    struct fd *fd = fd_create(&realfs_fdops);
+    fd->real_fd = actual_fd;
+    fd->dir = NULL;
+    return fd;
+}
+
+int create_piped_stdio() {
+    struct fd *si = open_fd_from_actual_fd(STDIN_FILENO);
+    struct fd *so = open_fd_from_actual_fd(STDOUT_FILENO);
+    struct fd *se = open_fd_from_actual_fd(STDERR_FILENO);
+    si->refcount = 0;
+    so->refcount = 0;
+    se->refcount = 0;
+    current->files->files[0] = fd_retain(si);
+    current->files->files[1] = fd_retain(so);
+    current->files->files[2] = fd_retain(se);
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/xX_main_Xx.h b/xX_main_Xx.h
index dd0b2b8b38..0dd0ce8a36 100644
--- a/xX_main_Xx.h
+++ b/xX_main_Xx.h
@@ -93,9 +93,14 @@ static inline int xX_main_Xx(int argc, char *const argv[], const char *envp) {
     if (err < 0)
         return err;
     tty_drivers[TTY_CONSOLE_MAJOR] = &real_tty_driver;
-    err = create_stdio(console);
-    if (err < 0)
-        return err;
+    if (isatty(fileno(stdin))) {
+        err = create_stdio(console);
+        if (err < 0)
+            return err;
+    }
+    else {
+        create_piped_stdio();
+    }
     exit_hook = exit_handler;
     return 0;
 }