diff --git a/internal/util/process.go b/internal/util/process.go
index 38d9ef37b..6f0150e82 100644
--- a/internal/util/process.go
+++ b/internal/util/process.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 package util
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"syscall"
@@ -23,7 +24,13 @@ func IsProcessAlive(pid int) bool {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
-	if proc.Signal(syscall.Signal(0)) != nil {
+	// #2190: kill(pid, 0) EPERM means the process EXISTS but we lack
+	// permission to signal it (POSIX) - treating it as dead mirrors the
+	// exact bug Windows fixed in #1723 (a privileged daemon probed by an
+	// unprivileged caller: false-dead deletes the PID file and forks a
+	// second instance, or triggers concurrent crash recovery - the Unix
+	// twin of #1490). Only a real error (ESRCH et al.) means dead.
+	if err := proc.Signal(syscall.Signal(0)); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, syscall.EPERM) {
 		return false
 	}
 	return !isZombieUnix(pid)
diff --git a/internal/util/zz_issue2190_test.go b/internal/util/zz_issue2190_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..068a08a38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/util/zz_issue2190_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package util
+
+// #2190 regression: kill(pid,0) EPERM means the process EXISTS but is
+// not signalable by us (POSIX) - it was returned as dead, the Unix twin
+// of the #1723 Windows bug (false-dead deletes PID files and forks
+// second daemons / concurrent crash recovery). The EPERM branch itself
+// needs a cross-privilege process (not unit-testable); these pin the
+// surrounding semantics that must not regress alongside it.
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestIsProcessAliveBasicSemantics(t *testing.T) {
+	if !IsProcessAlive(os.Getpid()) {
+		t.Fatal("self must be alive")
+	}
+	// A definitely-dead PID: spawn and reap one.
+	r, w, err := os.Pipe()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("pipe: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer r.Close()
+	defer w.Close()
+	pid, err := syscall.ForkExec("/bin/true", []string{"/bin/true"}, &syscall.ProcAttr{Files: []uintptr{r.Fd(), w.Fd(), w.Fd()}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Skipf("forkexec: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Wait for exit; probe until dead (bounded).
+	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+		if !IsProcessAlive(pid) {
+			return // dead, as expected
+		}
+		syscall.Wait4(pid, nil, syscall.WNOHANG, nil)
+	}
+	t.Fatal("reaped child must be reported dead")
+}