diff --git a/src/mod_authn_ldap.c b/src/mod_authn_ldap.c
index 26191f5c..f95234bd 100644
--- a/src/mod_authn_ldap.c
+++ b/src/mod_authn_ldap.c
@@ -404,6 +404,9 @@ static LDAP * mod_authn_ldap_host_init(server *srv, plugin_config *s) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
+    /* restart ldap functions if interrupted by a signal, e.g. SIGCHLD */
+    ldap_set_option(ld, LDAP_OPT_RESTART, LDAP_OPT_ON);
+
     if (s->auth_ldap_starttls) {
         /* if no CA file is given, it is ok, as we will use encryption
          * if the server requires a CAfile it will tell us */
diff --git a/src/mod_vhostdb_ldap.c b/src/mod_vhostdb_ldap.c
index e5362c40..234c2ba7 100644
--- a/src/mod_vhostdb_ldap.c
+++ b/src/mod_vhostdb_ldap.c
@@ -256,6 +256,9 @@ static LDAP * mod_authn_ldap_host_init(server *srv, vhostdb_config *s) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
+    /* restart ldap functions if interrupted by a signal, e.g. SIGCHLD */
+    ldap_set_option(ld, LDAP_OPT_RESTART, LDAP_OPT_ON);
+
     if (s->starttls) {
         /* if no CA file is given, it is ok, as we will use encryption
          * if the server requires a CAfile it will tell us */