diff --git a/sysinstall/sysinstall.c b/sysinstall/sysinstall.c
index fe27edf2..a7d3c5be 100644
--- a/sysinstall/sysinstall.c
+++ b/sysinstall/sysinstall.c
@@ -1751,7 +1751,7 @@ int main(void)
 			unmount_all_but_root();
 			unsetenv("SYSINSTALL_TARGET");
 			unsetenv("SHLVL");
-			exit(execute((const char*[]) { "chroot", "-d", fs,
+			exit(execute((const char*[]) { "chroot", "-dI", fs,
 			                               "/sbin/init", NULL }, "f"));
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/utils/chroot.8 b/utils/chroot.8
index fbcc69cd..aa6a15d7 100644
--- a/utils/chroot.8
+++ b/utils/chroot.8
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 .Nd run command with changed root directory
 .Sh SYNOPSIS
 .Nm
-.Op Fl d
+.Op Fl dI
 .Ar newroot
 .Oo
 .Ar command
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ The mountpoint is removed when
 .Ar command
 completes.
 This option is useful for running installations.
+.It Fl I , Fl \-init
+Become an init process using
+.Xr setinit 2
+and transfer the controlling terminal temporarily to the new session using the
+.Sy TIOCSCTTY
+.Xr ioctl 2 .
 .El
 .Sh ENVIRONMENT
 The environment is preserved.
diff --git a/utils/chroot.c b/utils/chroot.c
index 34e6fc8c..70a80fc5 100644
--- a/utils/chroot.c
+++ b/utils/chroot.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
  * Runs a process with another root directory.
  */
 
+#include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <sys/mount.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/wait.h>
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ static void compact_arguments(int* argc, char*** argv)
 }
 
 static char* mount_point_dev;
+static int tty_fd = -1;
 
 static void unmount_handler(int signum)
 {
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ static void unmount_handler(int signum)
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
 	bool devices = false;
+	bool init = false;
 	for ( int i = 1; i < argc; i++ )
 	{
 		const char* arg = argv[i];
@@ -76,12 +79,15 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 			while ( (c = *++arg) ) switch ( c )
 			{
 			case 'd': devices = true; break;
+			case 'I': init = true; break;
 			default:
 				errx(1, "unknown option -- '%c'", c);
 			}
 		}
 		else if ( !strcmp(arg, "--devices") )
 			devices = true;
+		else if ( !strcmp(arg, "--init") )
+			init = true;
 		else
 			errx(1, "unknown option: %s", arg);
 	}
@@ -91,7 +97,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	if ( argc < 2 )
 		error(1, 0, "missing operand, expected new root directory");
 
-	bool need_cleanup = devices;
+	bool need_cleanup = devices || init;
 
 	// TODO: Why do we even have signal handling instead of just blocking the
 	// signals and waiting for the subprocess to react?
@@ -124,6 +130,9 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 		close(old_dev_fd);
 	}
 
+	if ( init && (tty_fd = open("/dev/tty", O_RDWR | O_CLOEXEC)) < 0 )
+		error(1, errno, "/dev/tty");
+
 	sigset_t oldset, sigs;
 	if ( need_cleanup )
 	{
@@ -156,6 +165,14 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 			sigprocmask(SIG_SETMASK, &oldset, NULL);
 		}
 
+		if ( init )
+		{
+			if ( setinit() < 0 )
+				error(1, errno, "setinit");
+			if ( ioctl(tty_fd, TIOCSCTTY, 1) < 0 )
+				error(1, errno, "TIOCSCTTY");
+		}
+
 		if ( chroot(argv[1]) != 0 )
 			error(1, errno, "`%s'", argv[1]);
 
@@ -175,8 +192,16 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	int code;
 	waitpid(child_pid, &code, 0);
 	sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, &sigs, &oldset);
+	if ( init )
+	{
+		if ( ioctl(tty_fd, TIOCSCTTY, 1) < 0 )
+			error(0, errno, "TIOCSCTTY");
+	}
 	if ( devices )
-		unmount(mount_point_dev, 0);
+	{
+		if ( unmount(mount_point_dev, 0) < 0 )
+			error(0, errno, "unmount: %s", mount_point_dev);
+	}
 	sigprocmask(SIG_SETMASK, &oldset, NULL);
 	mount_point_dev = NULL;
 	if ( WIFEXITED(code) )