|| die qq/Cannot open pid file "$self->{path}": $!\n/;
        flock($fh, LOCK_EX | LOCK_NB)
         || die qq/pid "$self->{path}" already locked: $!\n/;
-       my ($pid) = <$fh> =~ /^(\d+)/;
+       my $maybe = <$fh>;
+       $maybe = "" unless defined $maybe;
+       my ($pid) = $maybe =~ /^(\d+)/;
        close $fh if @_ == 1;