diff --git a/sysfile.c b/sysfile.c
index ab5be04e22785821c75e3eb1d20bb6ecccfac2de..105fb48e6faec973ea6f2467eebfdab90ec32ca5 100644
--- a/sysfile.c
+++ b/sysfile.c
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ create(char *path, int canexist, short type, short major, short minor)
   ilock(ip);
   ip->major = major;
   ip->minor = minor;
+  ip->nlink = 1;
   iupdate(ip);
   
   if(dirlink(dp, name, ip->inum) < 0){