diff --git a/kernel/process.c b/kernel/process.c
index d883b59f..f636ccfd 100644
--- a/kernel/process.c
+++ b/kernel/process.c
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ struct process *create_process(unsigned long user_pc)
 		return NULL;
 
 	memset(proc, 0, sizeof(struct process));
-	ihk_atomic_set(&proc->refcount, 1);	
+	ihk_atomic_set(&proc->refcount, 2);	
 
 	proc->sighandler = kmalloc(sizeof(struct sig_handler), IHK_MC_AP_NOWAIT);
 	if(!proc->sighandler){
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ struct process *clone_process(struct process *org, unsigned long pc,
 	}
 
 	memset(proc, 0, sizeof(struct process));
-	ihk_atomic_set(&proc->refcount, 1);	
+	ihk_atomic_set(&proc->refcount, 2);	
 
 	/* NOTE: sp is the user mode stack! */
 	ihk_mc_init_user_process(&proc->ctx, &proc->uctx,
diff --git a/kernel/syscall.c b/kernel/syscall.c
index a2c32e17..a7f6bcf3 100644
--- a/kernel/syscall.c
+++ b/kernel/syscall.c
@@ -404,7 +404,10 @@ terminate(int rc, int sig, ihk_mc_user_context_t *ctx)
 	}
 
 	release_fork_tree_node(ftn);
+	
+	proc->status = PS_EXITED;
 	release_process(proc);
+	
 	schedule();
 }
 
@@ -1743,6 +1746,7 @@ SYSCALL_DECLARE(exit)
 	
 	proc->status = PS_ZOMBIE;
 	
+	release_fork_tree_node(proc->ftn);
 	release_process(proc);
 
 	schedule();