# add error processing as above
    $pid = open(KID_TO_WRITE, "|-");
    $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "whoops, $program pipe broke" };

    if ($pid) {  # parent
        for (@data) {
            print KID_TO_WRITE;
        }
        close(KID_TO_WRITE) || warn "kid exited $?";

    } else {     # child
        ($EUID, $EGID) = ($UID, $GID);
        exec($program, @options, @args)
            || die "can't exec program: $!";
        # NOTREACHED
    }