diff --git a/kernel-src/include/kernel/scheduler.h b/kernel-src/include/kernel/scheduler.h
index b7ec23a7..45d58cec 100644
--- a/kernel-src/include/kernel/scheduler.h
+++ b/kernel-src/include/kernel/scheduler.h
@@ -46,10 +46,12 @@ typedef struct thread_t {
 	spinlock_t sleeplock;
 	int wakeupreason;
 	bool shouldexit;
+	void *kernelarg;
 } thread_t;
 
 typedef struct proc_t {
 	spinlock_t lock;
+	int refcount;
 	int status;
 	int state;
 	struct proc_t *sibling;
@@ -77,6 +79,13 @@ typedef struct proc_t {
 #include <arch/cpu.h>
 
 #define UMASK(mode) ((mode) & ~_cpu()->thread->proc->umask)
+#define PROC_HOLD(v) __atomic_add_fetch(&(v)->refcount, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST)
+#define PROC_RELEASE(v) {\
+		if (__atomic_sub_fetch(&(v)->refcount, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST) == 0) {\
+			sched_inactiveproc(v); \
+			(v) = NULL; \
+		} \
+	}
 
 extern proc_t *sched_initproc;
 
@@ -101,5 +110,6 @@ void sched_destroythread(thread_t *);
 void sched_targetcpu(struct cpu_t *cpu);
 void sched_sleepus(size_t us);
 void sched_apentry();
+void sched_inactiveproc(proc_t *proc);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/kernel-src/sys/scheduler.c b/kernel-src/sys/scheduler.c
index 786e1f96..7a536163 100644
--- a/kernel-src/sys/scheduler.c
+++ b/kernel-src/sys/scheduler.c
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ proc_t *sched_newproc() {
 	SPINLOCK_INIT(proc->lock);
 	SPINLOCK_INIT(proc->nodeslock);
 	proc->fdcount = 3;
+	proc->refcount = 1;
 	proc->fdfirst = 3;
 	SPINLOCK_INIT(proc->fdlock);
 	SEMAPHORE_INIT(&proc->waitsem, 0);
@@ -87,8 +88,11 @@ thread_t *sched_newthread(void *ip, size_t kstacksize, int priority, proc_t *pro
 	thread->vmmctx = proc ? NULL : &vmm_kernelctx;
 	thread->proc = proc;
 	thread->priority = priority;
-	if (proc)
+	if (proc) {
+		// each thread holds one reference to proc
+		PROC_HOLD(proc);
 		thread->tid = __atomic_fetch_add(&currpid, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
+	}
 
 
 	CTX_INIT(&thread->context, proc != NULL, true);
@@ -229,9 +233,15 @@ __attribute__((noreturn)) void sched_stopcurrentthread() {
 	switchthread(next);
 }
 
+// called when all threads in a process have exited
 void sched_procexit() {
 	proc_t *proc = _cpu()->thread->proc;
 
+	// the process is going to be referenced by the child list, hold it
+	// it only holds it now because it has to have running threads to be in the list
+	// which hold a reference. it won't now since its a zombie, which is why it will be held
+	PROC_HOLD(proc);
+
 	// close fds
 	for (int fd = 0; fd < proc->fdcount; ++fd)
 		fd_close(fd);
@@ -245,6 +255,7 @@ void sched_procexit() {
 	proc->state = SCHED_PROC_STATE_ZOMBIE;
 	proc_t *lastchild = proc->child;
 
+
 	spinlock_acquire(&sched_initproc->lock);
 
 	bool haszombie = false;
@@ -270,6 +281,14 @@ void sched_procexit() {
 		semaphore_signal(&sched_initproc->waitsem);
 }
 
+void sched_inactiveproc(proc_t *proc) {
+	// proc refcount 0, we can free the structure
+	// TODO remove from the pid list
+
+	printf("destroying proc!\n");
+	sched_destroyproc(proc);
+}
+
 static void threadexit_internal(context_t *) {
 	thread_t *thread = _cpu()->thread;
 	// we don't need to access the current thread anymore, as any state will be ignored and we are running on the scheduler stack
@@ -301,6 +320,7 @@ __attribute__((noreturn)) void sched_threadexit() {
 
 			sched_procexit();
 			vmm_destroycontext(oldctx);
+			PROC_RELEASE(proc);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -628,8 +648,11 @@ void sched_runinit() {
 
 	thread_t *uthread = sched_newthread(entry, PAGE_SIZE * 16, 1, proc, stack);
 	__assert(uthread);
+
 	uthread->vmmctx = vmmctx;
 	sched_queue(uthread);
 
 	VOP_RELEASE(initnode);
+	// proc starts with 1 refcount, release it here as to only have the thread reference
+	PROC_RELEASE(proc);
 }
diff --git a/kernel-src/sys/syscalls/fork.c b/kernel-src/sys/syscalls/fork.c
index 90539b4d..12c384ad 100644
--- a/kernel-src/sys/syscalls/fork.c
+++ b/kernel-src/sys/syscalls/fork.c
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ syscallret_t syscall_fork(context_t *ctx) {
 	ret.ret = nproc->pid;
 
 	sched_queue(nthread);
+	// proc starts with 1 refcount, release it here as to only have the thread reference
+	PROC_RELEASE(nproc);
 
 	cleanup:
 	return ret;
diff --git a/kernel-src/sys/syscalls/waitpid.c b/kernel-src/sys/syscalls/waitpid.c
index 4fe1bbee..7eb0df81 100644
--- a/kernel-src/sys/syscalls/waitpid.c
+++ b/kernel-src/sys/syscalls/waitpid.c
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ syscallret_t syscall_waitpid(context_t *context, pid_t pid, int *status, int opt
 	ret.errno = 0;
 
 	__assert(iterator);
-	sched_destroyproc(iterator);
+	// process will no longer be referenced by the child list
+	PROC_RELEASE(iterator);
 	return ret;
 }