diff --git a/net-misc/bird/files/initd-bird-2 b/net-misc/bird/files/initd-bird-2
index a11b6a7..a55004f 100755
--- a/net-misc/bird/files/initd-bird-2
+++ b/net-misc/bird/files/initd-bird-2
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ if [ ${BIRD_USER} ]; then
 fi
 
 client_args="-s ${SOCK}"
-command_args="${client_args} -c ${CONF_FILE} ${BIRD_OPTS}"
+command_args="${client_args} -c ${CONF_FILE} -P ${pidfile} ${BIRD_OPTS}"
 client_args="${client_args} -r"
 
 depend() {
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ reload() {
 	eend $?
 }
 
+start_post() {
+	checkpath -f -m 0655 -o bird:bird "${pidfile}"
+}
+
 stop_pre() {
 	if [ "${RC_CMD}" = "restart" ] ; then
 		check_run || return 1