diff --git a/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/xec.c b/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/xec.c
--- a/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/xec.c
+++ b/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/xec.c
@@ -1647,8 +1647,9 @@ int sh_exec(register const Shnode_t *t, int flags)
 					{
 						if (!unpipe)
 							unpipe = iousepipe(shp);
-						sh_subfork();
 					}
+
+					sh_subfork();
 				}
 			}
 			no_fork = !ntflag && !(type&(FAMP|FPOU)) && !shp->subshell &&