diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/utils/spawner/Spawner.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/utils/spawner/Spawner.java
index 310a38b1b71..e5c1cea5aa6 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/utils/spawner/Spawner.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/utils/spawner/Spawner.java
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class Spawner extends Process {
 
 	int pid = 0;
 	int status;
-	int[] fChannels = new int[3];
+	final int[] fChannels = new int[3];
 	boolean isDone;
 	OutputStream out;
 	InputStream in;
@@ -400,6 +400,9 @@ public class Spawner extends Process {
 		if (pid == -1) {
 			throw new IOException("Exec error"); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		}
+		fChannels[0] = -1;
+		fChannels[1] = -1;
+		fChannels[2] = -1;
 	}
 
 	/**