diff -rupN b/src/helper.cc a/src/helper.cc
--- b/src/helper.cc	2012-08-15 05:24:19.000000000 +0200
+++ a/src/helper.cc	2012-09-25 18:34:08.700681738 +0200
@@ -727,8 +727,8 @@ helperServerFree(helper_server *srv)
         if (hlp->childs.needNew() > 0) {
             debugs(80, 1, "Too few " << hlp->id_name << " processes are running (need " << hlp->childs.needNew() << "/" << hlp->childs.n_max << ")");
 
-            if (hlp->childs.n_active < hlp->childs.n_startup && hlp->last_restart > squid_curtime - 30)
-                fatalf("The %s helpers are crashing too rapidly, need help!\n", hlp->id_name);
+            //if (hlp->childs.n_active < hlp->childs.n_startup && hlp->last_restart > squid_curtime - 30)
+            //    fatalf("The %s helpers are crashing too rapidly, need help!\n", hlp->id_name);
 
             debugs(80, 1, "Starting new helpers");
             helperOpenServers(hlp);
@@ -788,8 +788,8 @@ helperStatefulServerFree(helper_stateful
         if (hlp->childs.needNew() > 0) {
             debugs(80, 1, "Too few " << hlp->id_name << " processes are running (need " << hlp->childs.needNew() << "/" << hlp->childs.n_max << ")");
 
-            if (hlp->childs.n_active < hlp->childs.n_startup && hlp->last_restart > squid_curtime - 30)
-                fatalf("The %s helpers are crashing too rapidly, need help!\n", hlp->id_name);
+            //if (hlp->childs.n_active < hlp->childs.n_startup && hlp->last_restart > squid_curtime - 30)
+            //    fatalf("The %s helpers are crashing too rapidly, need help!\n", hlp->id_name);
 
             debugs(80, 1, "Starting new helpers");
             helperStatefulOpenServers(hlp);