diff --git a/aos/starter/starterd_lib.cc b/aos/starter/starterd_lib.cc
index 95210c0..38d519d 100644
--- a/aos/starter/starterd_lib.cc
+++ b/aos/starter/starterd_lib.cc
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 DEFINE_uint32(queue_initialization_threads, 0,
               "Number of threads to spin up to initialize the queue.  0 means "
               "use the main thread.");
+DECLARE_bool(enable_ftrace);
 
 namespace aos::starter {
 
@@ -214,6 +215,11 @@
   if (info.ssi_signo == SIGCHLD) {
     // SIGCHLD messages can be collapsed if multiple are received, so all
     // applications must check their status.
+    if (FLAGS_enable_ftrace) {
+      ftrace_.FormatMessage("SIGCHLD");
+      ftrace_.TurnOffOrDie();
+    }
+
     for (auto iter = applications_.begin(); iter != applications_.end();) {
       if (iter->second.MaybeHandleSignal()) {
         iter = applications_.erase(iter);
diff --git a/aos/starter/starterd_lib.h b/aos/starter/starterd_lib.h
index 3779c84..1ffc782 100644
--- a/aos/starter/starterd_lib.h
+++ b/aos/starter/starterd_lib.h
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@
   aos::PhasedLoopHandler *status_timer_;
   aos::TimerHandler *cleanup_timer_;
 
+  aos::Ftrace ftrace_;
+
   int status_count_ = 0;
   const int max_status_count_;