diff --git a/plugins/relayd/relayd b/plugins/relayd/relayd
index 008d1fa1..9bdffda1 100755
--- a/plugins/relayd/relayd
+++ b/plugins/relayd/relayd
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ elsif ($cmd eq 'autoconf') {
         fail("$logfile unreadable)") unless -r $logfile;
         fail("$configfile unreadable") unless -r $configfile;
         open(my $status, "relayctl show summary|") or fail("cannot open relayctl pipe: $!");
+        () = <$status>;
         close($status) or fail("cannot run relayctl: $!");
         print "yes";
         exit(0);