diff --git a/package/base/sysfiles/etc_inittab.txt b/package/base/sysfiles/etc_inittab.txt
index c2d00ca68..41c7b0978 100644
--- a/package/base/sysfiles/etc_inittab.txt
+++ b/package/base/sysfiles/etc_inittab.txt
@@ -80,5 +80,5 @@ ca:12345:ctrlaltdel:/sbin/shutdown -r now
 #
 # A X display manager (multiplexer)
 #
-X:5:respawn:/usr/X11/bin/startxdm
+X:5:respawn:/usr/X11/bin/startxdm -nodaemon
 
diff --git a/package/x11/xfree86/startxdm.sh b/package/x11/xfree86/startxdm.sh
index fe1717a6a..301a2b1d7 100644
--- a/package/x11/xfree86/startxdm.sh
+++ b/package/x11/xfree86/startxdm.sh
@@ -4,5 +4,15 @@ XDM=/usr/X11/bin/xdm
 
 [ -e /etc/conf/xdm ] && . /etc/conf/xdm
 
-$XDM
+function check_dm() {
+	echo $XDM | grep -q $1
+}
+
+if [ "$1" = "-nodaemon" ] &&
+		! check_dm gdm && ! check_dm kdm && ! check_dm xdm
+then
+	shift
+fi
+
+$XDM "$@"