diff --git a/radicale/__main__.py b/radicale/__main__.py
index bd096475..547abe19 100644
--- a/radicale/__main__.py
+++ b/radicale/__main__.py
@@ -99,14 +99,30 @@ def run():
 
     # Fork if Radicale is launched as daemon
     if config.getboolean("server", "daemon"):
-        if os.path.exists(config.get("server", "pid")):
-            raise OSError("PID file exists: %s" % config.get("server", "pid"))
+        # Check and create PID file in a race-free manner
+        if config.get("server", "pid"):
+            try:
+                pid_fd = os.open(config.get("server", "pid"),
+                                 os.O_CREAT | os.O_EXCL | os.O_WRONLY)
+            except:
+                raise OSError("PID file exists: %s" %
+                              config.get("server", "pid"))
         pid = os.fork()
         if pid:
             sys.exit()
-        elif config.get("server", "pid"):
-            open(config.get("server", "pid"), "w").write(str(os.getpid()))
-        sys.stdout = sys.stderr = open(os.devnull, "w")
+        # Write PID
+        if config.get("server", "pid"):
+            with os.fdopen(pid_fd, "w") as pid_file:
+                pid_file.write(str(os.getpid()))
+        # Decouple environment
+        os.umask(0)
+        os.chdir("/")
+        os.setsid()
+        with open(os.devnull, "r") as null_in:
+            os.dup2(null_in.fileno(), sys.stdin.fileno())
+        with open(os.devnull, "w") as null_out:
+            os.dup2(null_out.fileno(), sys.stdout.fileno())
+            os.dup2(null_out.fileno(), sys.stderr.fileno())
 
     # Register exit function
     def cleanup():