diff --git a/WHATS_NEW_DM b/WHATS_NEW_DM
index 18a522995..8c4a064f9 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW_DM
+++ b/WHATS_NEW_DM
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 1.02.54 - 
 ================================
+  Add check for kernel semaphore support and disable udev_sync if not available.
 
 Version 1.02.53 - 28th July 2010
 ================================
diff --git a/libdm/libdm-common.c b/libdm/libdm-common.c
index 438e46140..33a35cbd5 100644
--- a/libdm/libdm-common.c
+++ b/libdm/libdm-common.c
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ static char _dm_dir[PATH_MAX] = DEV_DIR DM_DIR;
 static int _verbose = 0;
 
 #ifdef UDEV_SYNC_SUPPORT
+static int _semaphore_supported = -1;
 static int _udev_running = -1;
 static int _sync_with_udev = 1;
 static int _udev_checking = 1;
@@ -929,6 +930,23 @@ int dm_udev_wait(uint32_t cookie)
 
 #else		/* UDEV_SYNC_SUPPORT */
 
+static int _check_semaphore_is_supported()
+{
+	int maxid;
+	union semun arg;
+	struct seminfo seminfo;
+
+	arg.__buf = &seminfo;
+	maxid = semctl(0, 0, SEM_INFO, arg);
+
+	if (maxid < 0) {
+		log_warn("Kernel not configured for semaphores (System V IPC). "
+			 "Not using udev synchronisation code.");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	return 1;
+}
 
 static int _check_udev_is_running(void)
 {
@@ -958,20 +976,27 @@ bad:
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void dm_udev_set_sync_support(int sync_with_udev)
+static void _check_udev_sync_requirements_once()
 {
+	if (_semaphore_supported < 0)
+		_semaphore_supported = _check_semaphore_is_supported();
+
 	if (_udev_running < 0)
 		_udev_running = _check_udev_is_running();
+}
 
+void dm_udev_set_sync_support(int sync_with_udev)
+{
+	_check_udev_sync_requirements_once();
 	_sync_with_udev = sync_with_udev;
 }
 
 int dm_udev_get_sync_support(void)
 {
-	if (_udev_running < 0)
-		_udev_running = _check_udev_is_running();
+	_check_udev_sync_requirements_once();
 
-	return dm_cookie_supported() && _udev_running && _sync_with_udev;
+	return _semaphore_supported && dm_cookie_supported() &&
+		_udev_running && _sync_with_udev;
 }
 
 void dm_udev_set_checking(int checking)