diff --git a/src/bci_build/package/postgres/entrypoint.sh b/src/bci_build/package/postgres/entrypoint.sh
index d09b5388a..ae40666ca 100644
--- a/src/bci_build/package/postgres/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/src/bci_build/package/postgres/entrypoint.sh
@@ -269,6 +269,9 @@ docker_temp_server_start() {
 	# does not listen on external TCP/IP and waits until start finishes
 	set -- "$@" -c listen_addresses='' -p "${PGPORT:-5432}"
 
+	# unset NOTIFY_SOCKET so the temporary server doesn't prematurely notify
+	# any process supervisor.
+	NOTIFY_SOCKET= \
 	PGUSER="${PGUSER:-$POSTGRES_USER}" \
 	pg_ctl -D "$PGDATA" \
 		-o "$(printf '%q ' "$@")" \