diff --git a/Doc/using/cmdline.rst b/Doc/using/cmdline.rst
index c14f6c76e00..908a17c5aac 100644
--- a/Doc/using/cmdline.rst
+++ b/Doc/using/cmdline.rst
@@ -511,9 +511,9 @@ conflict.
 
 .. envvar:: PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE
 
-   If this is set, Python won't try to write ``.pyc`` or ``.pyo`` files on the
-   import of source modules.  This is equivalent to specifying the :option:`-B`
-   option.
+   If this is set to a non-empty string, Python won't try to write ``.pyc`` or
+   ``.pyo`` files on the import of source modules.  This is equivalent to
+   specifying the :option:`-B` option.
 
 
 .. envvar:: PYTHONHASHSEED
@@ -582,11 +582,11 @@ conflict.
 
 .. envvar:: PYTHONFAULTHANDLER
 
-   If this environment variable is set, :func:`faulthandler.enable` is called
-   at startup: install a handler for :const:`SIGSEGV`, :const:`SIGFPE`,
-   :const:`SIGABRT`, :const:`SIGBUS` and :const:`SIGILL` signals to dump the
-   Python traceback.  This is equivalent to :option:`-X` ``faulthandler``
-   option.
+   If this environment variable is set to a non-empty string,
+   :func:`faulthandler.enable` is called at startup: install a handler for
+   :const:`SIGSEGV`, :const:`SIGFPE`, :const:`SIGABRT`, :const:`SIGBUS` and
+   :const:`SIGILL` signals to dump the Python traceback.  This is equivalent to
+   :option:`-X` ``faulthandler`` option.
 
    .. versionadded:: 3.3
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_faulthandler.py b/Lib/test/test_faulthandler.py
index 4a8becfe38f..d78bcb0a95f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_faulthandler.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_faulthandler.py
@@ -265,17 +265,33 @@ faulthandler._sigsegv()
         # By default, the module should be disabled
         code = "import faulthandler; print(faulthandler.is_enabled())"
         args = (sys.executable, '-E', '-c', code)
-        # use subprocess module directly because test.script_helper adds
-        # "-X faulthandler" to the command line
-        stdout = subprocess.check_output(args)
-        self.assertEqual(stdout.rstrip(), b"False")
+        # don't use assert_python_ok() because it always enable faulthandler
+        output = subprocess.check_output(args)
+        self.assertEqual(output.rstrip(), b"False")
 
     def test_sys_xoptions(self):
         # Test python -X faulthandler
         code = "import faulthandler; print(faulthandler.is_enabled())"
-        rc, stdout, stderr = assert_python_ok("-X", "faulthandler", "-c", code)
-        stdout = (stdout + stderr).strip()
-        self.assertEqual(stdout, b"True")
+        args = (sys.executable, "-E", "-X", "faulthandler", "-c", code)
+        # don't use assert_python_ok() because it always enable faulthandler
+        output = subprocess.check_output(args)
+        self.assertEqual(output.rstrip(), b"True")
+
+    def test_env_var(self):
+        # empty env var
+        code = "import faulthandler; print(faulthandler.is_enabled())"
+        args = (sys.executable, "-c", code)
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        env['PYTHONFAULTHANDLER'] = ''
+        # don't use assert_python_ok() because it always enable faulthandler
+        output = subprocess.check_output(args, env=env)
+        self.assertEqual(output.rstrip(), b"False")
+
+        # non-empty env var
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        env['PYTHONFAULTHANDLER'] = '1'
+        output = subprocess.check_output(args, env=env)
+        self.assertEqual(output.rstrip(), b"True")
 
     def check_dump_traceback(self, filename):
         """
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_os.py b/Lib/test/test_os.py
index d0dd364f89a..aa48045a303 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_os.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_os.py
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ try:
     import resource
 except ImportError:
     resource = None
+try:
+    import fcntl
+except ImportError:
+    fcntl = None
 
 from test.script_helper import assert_python_ok
 
@@ -2300,19 +2304,37 @@ class CPUCountTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
 
 class FDInheritanceTests(unittest.TestCase):
-    def test_get_inheritable(self):
+    def test_get_set_inheritable(self):
         fd = os.open(__file__, os.O_RDONLY)
         self.addCleanup(os.close, fd)
-        for inheritable in (False, True):
-            os.set_inheritable(fd, inheritable)
-            self.assertEqual(os.get_inheritable(fd), inheritable)
+        self.assertEqual(os.get_inheritable(fd), False)
 
-    def test_set_inheritable(self):
-        fd = os.open(__file__, os.O_RDONLY)
-        self.addCleanup(os.close, fd)
         os.set_inheritable(fd, True)
         self.assertEqual(os.get_inheritable(fd), True)
 
+    if fcntl:
+        def test_get_inheritable_cloexec(self):
+            fd = os.open(__file__, os.O_RDONLY)
+            self.addCleanup(os.close, fd)
+            self.assertEqual(os.get_inheritable(fd), False)
+
+            # clear FD_CLOEXEC flag
+            flags = fcntl.fcntl(fd, fcntl.F_GETFD)
+            flags &= ~fcntl.FD_CLOEXEC
+            fcntl.fcntl(fd, fcntl.F_SETFD, flags)
+
+            self.assertEqual(os.get_inheritable(fd), True)
+
+        def test_set_inheritable_cloexec(self):
+            fd = os.open(__file__, os.O_RDONLY)
+            self.addCleanup(os.close, fd)
+            self.assertEqual(fcntl.fcntl(fd, fcntl.F_GETFD) & fcntl.FD_CLOEXEC,
+                             fcntl.FD_CLOEXEC)
+
+            os.set_inheritable(fd, True)
+            self.assertEqual(fcntl.fcntl(fd, fcntl.F_GETFD) & fcntl.FD_CLOEXEC,
+                             0)
+
     def test_open(self):
         fd = os.open(__file__, os.O_RDONLY)
         self.addCleanup(os.close, fd)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_socket.py b/Lib/test/test_socket.py
index 620576812a8..fc478b6a873 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_socket.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_socket.py
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ try:
     import multiprocessing
 except ImportError:
     multiprocessing = False
+try:
+    import fcntl
+except ImportError:
+    fcntl = None
 
 HOST = support.HOST
 MSG = 'Michael Gilfix was here\u1234\r\n'.encode('utf-8') ## test unicode string and carriage return
@@ -4804,6 +4808,32 @@ class InheritanceTest(unittest.TestCase):
             sock.set_inheritable(False)
             self.assertEqual(sock.get_inheritable(), False)
 
+    if fcntl:
+        def test_get_inheritable_cloexec(self):
+            sock = socket.socket()
+            with sock:
+                fd = sock.fileno()
+                self.assertEqual(sock.get_inheritable(), False)
+
+                # clear FD_CLOEXEC flag
+                flags = fcntl.fcntl(fd, fcntl.F_GETFD)
+                flags &= ~fcntl.FD_CLOEXEC
+                fcntl.fcntl(fd, fcntl.F_SETFD, flags)
+
+                self.assertEqual(sock.get_inheritable(), True)
+
+        def test_set_inheritable_cloexec(self):
+            sock = socket.socket()
+            with sock:
+                fd = sock.fileno()
+                self.assertEqual(fcntl.fcntl(fd, fcntl.F_GETFD) & fcntl.FD_CLOEXEC,
+                                 fcntl.FD_CLOEXEC)
+
+                sock.set_inheritable(True)
+                self.assertEqual(fcntl.fcntl(fd, fcntl.F_GETFD) & fcntl.FD_CLOEXEC,
+                                 0)
+
+
     @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(socket, "socketpair"),
                          "need socket.socketpair()")
     def test_socketpair(self):
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index f97b504e7f2..128e740b746 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ What's New in Python 3.4.0 Alpha 3?
 
 Projected Release date: 2013-10-XX
 
+Library
+-------
+
+- The :envvar:`PYTHONFAULTHANDLER` environment variable now only enables the
+  faulthandler module if the variable is non-empty. Same behaviour than other
+  variables like :envvar:`PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE`.
+
 Tests
 -----
 
diff --git a/Modules/faulthandler.c b/Modules/faulthandler.c
index 172945d1a40..47bc9e8d3b3 100644
--- a/Modules/faulthandler.c
+++ b/Modules/faulthandler.c
@@ -1048,8 +1048,11 @@ faulthandler_env_options(void)
 {
     PyObject *xoptions, *key, *module, *res;
     _Py_IDENTIFIER(enable);
+    char *p;
 
-    if (!Py_GETENV("PYTHONFAULTHANDLER")) {
+    if (!((p = Py_GETENV("PYTHONFAULTHANDLER")) && *p != '\0')) {
+        /* PYTHONFAULTHANDLER environment variable is missing
+           or an empty string */
         int has_key;
 
         xoptions = PySys_GetXOptions();