diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 7ba12bd9..c76f9ecc 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -867,6 +867,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
             DLOG("serving restart fd %d", restart_fd);
             ipc_client *client = ipc_new_client_on_fd(main_loop, restart_fd);
             ipc_confirm_restart(client);
+            unsetenv("_I3_RESTART_FD");
         }
     }