---
name: "nohup"
section: "1"
platform: "macos"
package: "shell_cmds"
version: "329"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nohup"
---

# nohup(1)

invoke a utility immune to hangups

## NAME

**nohup** – invoke a utility immune to hangups

## SYNOPSIS

**nohup** \[**-****-**\] *utility* \[*arguments*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **nohup** utility invokes *utility* with its *arguments* and at this time sets the signal SIGHUP to be ignored. If the standard output is a terminal, the standard output is appended to the file *nohup.out* in the current directory. If standard error is a terminal, it is directed to the same place as the standard output.

Some shells may provide a builtin **nohup** command which is similar or identical to this utility. Consult the [builtin(1)](/builtin/1.md) manual page.

## ENVIRONMENT

The following variables are utilized by **nohup**:

- HOME

  If the output file *nohup.out* cannot be created in the current directory, the **nohup** utility uses the directory named by HOME to create the file.

- PATH

  Used to locate the requested *utility* if the name contains no ‘/’ characters.

## EXIT STATUS

The **nohup** utility exits with one of the following values:

- 126

  The *utility* was found, but could not be invoked.

- 127

  The *utility* could not be found or an error occurred in **nohup**.

Otherwise, the exit status of **nohup** will be that of *utility*.

## SEE ALSO

[builtin(1)](/builtin/1.md), [csh(1)](/csh/1.md), [signal(3)](/signal/3.md)

## STANDARDS

The **nohup** utility is expected to be IEEE Std 1003.2 (“POSIX.2”) compatible.

## BUGS

Two or more instances of **nohup** can append to the same file, which makes for a confusing output.