diff --git a/include/9p.h b/include/9p.h
index 9d98bba..77efeb4 100644
--- a/include/9p.h
+++ b/include/9p.h
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@
 	int		srvfd;
 	int		leavefdsopen;	/* magic for acme win */
 	int		dotu;
+	int		foreground;	/* run in foreground */
 
 /* below is implementation-specific; don't use */
 	Fidpool*	fpool;
diff --git a/src/lib9p/tpost.c b/src/lib9p/tpost.c
index d6691fe..1784855 100644
--- a/src/lib9p/tpost.c
+++ b/src/lib9p/tpost.c
@@ -26,5 +26,8 @@
 			sysfatal("post9pservice %s: %r", name);
 	}else if(!s->nopipe)
 		sysfatal("no one to serve");
-	proccreate(launchsrv, s, 32*1024);
+	if(s->foreground)
+		srv(s);
+	else
+		proccreate(launchsrv, s, 32*1024);
 }