diff --git a/lib/libutil/pidfile.c b/lib/libutil/pidfile.c
index 5b7d13083681..eaa9379267db 100644
--- a/lib/libutil/pidfile.c
+++ b/lib/libutil/pidfile.c
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ pidfile_open(const char *pathp, mode_t mode, pid_t *pidptr)
 	}
 
 	if (cap_rights_limit(fd, cap_rights_init(&caprights, CAP_PWRITE,
-	    CAP_FSTAT, CAP_FTRUNCATE)) < 0 &&
+	    CAP_FSTAT, CAP_FTRUNCATE, CAP_EVENT)) < 0 &&
 	    errno != ENOSYS) {
 		goto failed;
 	}