--- httpd-2.2.24/server/mpm_common.c~	2013-11-15 19:03:14.000000000 +0100
+++ httpd-2.2.24/server/mpm_common.c	2013-11-15 19:05:59.513220552 +0100
@@ -777,6 +777,10 @@
      * a while serving time-consuming requests)
      */
     for (i = 0; i < num && rv == APR_SUCCESS; i++) {
+        if (ap_scoreboard_image->servers[i][0].status != SERVER_READY ||
+            ap_scoreboard_image->servers[i][0].pid == 0) {
+            continue;
+        }
         rv = dummy_connection(pod);
     }
 }