diff --git a/src/child.c b/src/child.c
index 60f8ead..64771ea 100644
--- a/src/child.c
+++ b/src/child.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "conf.h"
 
 static vector_t listen_fds;
+volatile int children;	    /* referenced from main.c */
 
 /*
  * Stores the internal data needed for each child (connection)
@@ -202,6 +203,11 @@ static void child_main (struct child_s *ptr)
         ptr->connects = 0;
         srand(time(NULL));
 
+#ifdef FILTER_ENABLE
+        if (config.filter)
+                filter_init ();
+#endif /* FILTER_ENABLE */
+
         /*
          * We have to wait for connections on multiple fds,
          * so use select.
@@ -226,7 +232,6 @@ static void child_main (struct child_s *ptr)
                         FD_SET(*fd, &rfds);
                         maxfd = max(maxfd, *fd);
                 }
-
                 ptr->status = T_WAITING;
 
                 clilen = sizeof(struct sockaddr_storage);
@@ -358,8 +363,10 @@ static pid_t child_make (struct child_s *ptr)
 {
         pid_t pid;
 
-        if ((pid = fork ()) > 0)
+        if ((pid = fork ()) > 0) {
+		++children;
                 return pid;     /* parent */
+	}
 
         /*
          * Reset the SIGNALS so that the child can be reaped.
@@ -513,10 +520,7 @@ void child_main_loop (void)
                          * This should actually be handled somehow...
                          */
                         reload_config ();
-
-#ifdef FILTER_ENABLE
                         filter_reload ();
-#endif /* FILTER_ENABLE */
 
                         /* propagate filter reload to all children */
                         child_kill_children (SIGHUP);
diff --git a/src/filter.c b/src/filter.c
index 3164191..9fd054e 100644
--- a/src/filter.c
+++ b/src/filter.c
@@ -61,7 +61,9 @@ void filter_init (void)
 
         fd = fopen (config.filter, "r");
         if (!fd) {
-                return;
+		log_message(LOG_ERR, "Can't read the filter from %s: %s",
+		    config.filter, strerror(errno));
+		exit(3);
         }
 
         p = NULL;
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 43170c5..9e40b03 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 struct config_s config;
 struct config_s config_defaults;
 unsigned int received_sighup = FALSE;   /* boolean */
+extern volatile int children;		/* defined in child.c */
 
 /*
  * Handle a signal
@@ -374,11 +375,6 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
                 exit (EX_OSERR);
         }
 
-#ifdef FILTER_ENABLE
-        if (config.filter)
-                filter_init ();
-#endif /* FILTER_ENABLE */
-
         /* Start listening on the selected port. */
         if (child_listening_sockets(config.listen_addrs, config.port) < 0) {
                 fprintf (stderr, "%s: Could not create listening sockets.\n",