diff --git a/dlls/kernel/process.c b/dlls/kernel/process.c
index 7da3a27b82..a05804cdb5 100644
--- a/dlls/kernel/process.c
+++ b/dlls/kernel/process.c
@@ -736,23 +736,18 @@ static void usage(void)
  *
  * Fill the RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS structure from the server.
  */
-static RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *init_user_process_params( size_t info_size )
+static BOOL init_user_process_params( RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *params )
 {
     BOOL ret;
     void *ptr;
-    DWORD size, env_size;
-    RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *params;
+    DWORD size, env_size, info_size;
     HANDLE hstdin, hstdout, hstderr;
 
-    size = info_size;
-    ptr = NULL;
-    if (NtAllocateVirtualMemory( NtCurrentProcess(), &ptr, 0, &size,
-                                 MEM_COMMIT, PAGE_READWRITE ) != STATUS_SUCCESS)
-        return NULL;
+    size = info_size = params->AllocationSize;
 
     SERVER_START_REQ( get_startup_info )
     {
-        wine_server_set_reply( req, ptr, info_size );
+        wine_server_set_reply( req, params, size );
         if ((ret = !wine_server_call( req )))
         {
             info_size = wine_server_reply_size( reply );
@@ -764,14 +759,8 @@ static RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *init_user_process_params( size_t info_size )
         }
     }
     SERVER_END_REQ;
-    if (!ret)
-    {
-        size = 0;
-        NtFreeVirtualMemory( NtCurrentProcess(), &ptr, &size, MEM_RELEASE );
-        return NULL;
-    }
+    if (!ret) return ret;
 
-    params = ptr;
     params->AllocationSize = size;
     if (params->Size > info_size) params->Size = info_size;
 
@@ -791,7 +780,7 @@ static RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *init_user_process_params( size_t info_size )
     ptr = NULL;
     if (NtAllocateVirtualMemory( NtCurrentProcess(), &ptr, 0, &env_size,
                                  MEM_COMMIT, PAGE_READWRITE ) != STATUS_SUCCESS)
-        return NULL;
+        return FALSE;
     memcpy( ptr, (char *)params + params->Size, info_size - params->Size );
     params->Environment = ptr;
 
@@ -818,7 +807,8 @@ static RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *init_user_process_params( size_t info_size )
     params->hStdOutput = hstdout;
     params->hStdError  = hstderr;
 
-    return RtlNormalizeProcessParams( params );
+    RtlNormalizeProcessParams( params );
+    return TRUE;
 }
 
 
@@ -944,9 +934,8 @@ static BOOL process_init(void)
 {
     static const WCHAR kernel32W[] = {'k','e','r','n','e','l','3','2',0};
     BOOL ret;
-    size_t info_size = 0;
-    RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *params;
     PEB *peb = NtCurrentTeb()->Peb;
+    RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *params = peb->ProcessParameters;
     extern void __wine_dbg_kernel32_init(void);
 
     PTHREAD_Init();
@@ -962,17 +951,14 @@ static BOOL process_init(void)
     {
         if ((ret = !wine_server_call_err( req )))
         {
-            info_size         = reply->info_size;
             server_startticks = reply->server_start;
         }
     }
     SERVER_END_REQ;
     if (!ret) return FALSE;
 
-    if (info_size == 0)
+    if (!params->AllocationSize)
     {
-        params = peb->ProcessParameters;
-
         /* This is wine specific: we have no parent (we're started from unix)
          * so, create a simple console with bare handles to unix stdio 
          * input & output streams (aka simple console)
@@ -985,17 +971,13 @@ static BOOL process_init(void)
         params->CurrentDirectory.DosPath.MaximumLength = RtlGetLongestNtPathLength() * sizeof(WCHAR);
         params->CurrentDirectory.DosPath.Buffer = RtlAllocateHeap( GetProcessHeap(), 0, params->CurrentDirectory.DosPath.MaximumLength);
     }
-    else
-    {
-        if (!(params = init_user_process_params( info_size ))) return FALSE;
-        peb->ProcessParameters = params;
-    }
+    else if (!init_user_process_params( params )) return FALSE;
 
     kernel32_handle = GetModuleHandleW(kernel32W);
 
     LOCALE_Init();
 
-    if (!info_size)
+    if (!params->AllocationSize)
     {
         /* Copy the parent environment */
         if (!build_initial_environment( __wine_main_environ )) return FALSE;
diff --git a/dlls/ntdll/loader.c b/dlls/ntdll/loader.c
index 228cb94e9c..25886cb397 100644
--- a/dlls/ntdll/loader.c
+++ b/dlls/ntdll/loader.c
@@ -2126,9 +2126,22 @@ void __wine_process_init( int argc, char *argv[] )
     NTSTATUS status;
     ANSI_STRING func_name;
     void (* DECLSPEC_NORETURN init_func)();
+    ULONG info_size;
     extern mode_t FILE_umask;
 
-    thread_init();
+    info_size = thread_init();
+
+    if (info_size)
+    {
+        RTL_USER_PROCESS_PARAMETERS *params = NULL;
+
+        if (NtAllocateVirtualMemory( NtCurrentProcess(), (void **)&params, 0, &info_size,
+                                     MEM_COMMIT, PAGE_READWRITE ) == STATUS_SUCCESS)
+        {
+            params->AllocationSize = info_size;
+            NtCurrentTeb()->Peb->ProcessParameters = params;
+        }
+    }
 
     /* retrieve current umask */
     FILE_umask = umask(0777);
diff --git a/dlls/ntdll/ntdll_misc.h b/dlls/ntdll/ntdll_misc.h
index 99b59cbb1f..63c76da7f4 100644
--- a/dlls/ntdll/ntdll_misc.h
+++ b/dlls/ntdll/ntdll_misc.h
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ extern NTSTATUS NTDLL_wait_for_multiple_objects( UINT count, const HANDLE *handl
 /* init routines */
 extern BOOL SIGNAL_Init(void);
 extern void debug_init(void);
-extern void thread_init(void);
+extern ULONG thread_init(void);
 extern void virtual_init(void);
 
 /* server support */
 extern void server_init_process(void);
-extern void server_init_thread( int unix_pid, int unix_tid, void *entry_point );
+extern size_t server_init_thread( int unix_pid, int unix_tid, void *entry_point );
 extern void DECLSPEC_NORETURN server_protocol_error( const char *err, ... );
 extern void DECLSPEC_NORETURN server_protocol_perror( const char *err );
 extern void DECLSPEC_NORETURN server_abort_thread( int status );
diff --git a/dlls/ntdll/server.c b/dlls/ntdll/server.c
index b27bc5061c..f68849efdf 100644
--- a/dlls/ntdll/server.c
+++ b/dlls/ntdll/server.c
@@ -873,11 +873,12 @@ void server_init_process(void)
  *
  * Send an init thread request. Return 0 if OK.
  */
-void server_init_thread( int unix_pid, int unix_tid, void *entry_point )
+size_t server_init_thread( int unix_pid, int unix_tid, void *entry_point )
 {
     int version, ret;
     int reply_pipe[2];
     struct sigaction sig_act;
+    size_t info_size;
 
     sig_act.sa_handler = SIG_IGN;
     sig_act.sa_flags   = 0;
@@ -918,7 +919,8 @@ void server_init_thread( int unix_pid, int unix_tid, void *entry_point )
         ret = wine_server_call( req );
         NtCurrentTeb()->ClientId.UniqueProcess = (HANDLE)reply->pid;
         NtCurrentTeb()->ClientId.UniqueThread  = (HANDLE)reply->tid;
-        version  = reply->version;
+        info_size = reply->info_size;
+        version   = reply->version;
     }
     SERVER_END_REQ;
 
@@ -930,4 +932,5 @@ void server_init_thread( int unix_pid, int unix_tid, void *entry_point )
                                "Or maybe the wrong wineserver is still running?\n",
                                version, SERVER_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
                                (version > SERVER_PROTOCOL_VERSION) ? "wine" : "wineserver" );
+    return info_size;
 }
diff --git a/dlls/ntdll/thread.c b/dlls/ntdll/thread.c
index f98f3fc04c..c30c02f67a 100644
--- a/dlls/ntdll/thread.c
+++ b/dlls/ntdll/thread.c
@@ -102,11 +102,11 @@ static inline void free_teb( TEB *teb )
  *
  * NOTES: The first allocated TEB on NT is at 0x7ffde000.
  */
-void thread_init(void)
+ULONG thread_init(void)
 {
     TEB *teb;
     void *addr;
-    ULONG size;
+    ULONG size, info_size;
     struct ntdll_thread_data *thread_data;
     struct wine_pthread_thread_info thread_info;
     static struct debug_info debug_info;  /* debug info for initial thread */
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ void thread_init(void)
 
     /* setup the server connection */
     server_init_process();
-    server_init_thread( thread_info.pid, thread_info.tid, NULL );
+    info_size = server_init_thread( thread_info.pid, thread_info.tid, NULL );
 
     /* create a memory view for the TEB */
     addr = teb;
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ void thread_init(void)
         MESSAGE( "wine: failed to create the process heap\n" );
         exit(1);
     }
+    return info_size;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/include/wine/server_protocol.h b/include/wine/server_protocol.h
index 6e76653978..59e1f56641 100644
--- a/include/wine/server_protocol.h
+++ b/include/wine/server_protocol.h
@@ -245,7 +245,6 @@ struct init_process_reply
 {
     struct reply_header __header;
     unsigned int server_start;
-    size_t       info_size;
 };
 
 
@@ -304,6 +303,7 @@ struct init_thread_reply
     struct reply_header __header;
     process_id_t pid;
     thread_id_t  tid;
+    size_t       info_size;
     int          version;
 };
 
@@ -4174,6 +4174,6 @@ union generic_reply
     struct set_mailslot_info_reply set_mailslot_info_reply;
 };
 
-#define SERVER_PROTOCOL_VERSION 185
+#define SERVER_PROTOCOL_VERSION 186
 
 #endif /* __WINE_WINE_SERVER_PROTOCOL_H */
diff --git a/server/process.c b/server/process.c
index 4787db7224..99f1476490 100644
--- a/server/process.c
+++ b/server/process.c
@@ -303,18 +303,18 @@ inline static struct startup_info *find_startup_info( int unix_pid )
 }
 
 /* initialize the current process and fill in the request */
-void init_process( struct thread *thread )
+size_t init_process( struct thread *thread )
 {
     struct process *process = thread->process;
     struct thread *parent_thread = NULL;
     struct process *parent = NULL;
     struct startup_info *info;
 
-    if (process->startup_info) return;  /* already initialized */
+    if (process->startup_info) return process->startup_info->data_size;  /* already initialized */
 
     if ((info = find_startup_info( thread->unix_pid )))
     {
-        if (info->thread) return;  /* already initialized */
+        if (info->thread) return info->data_size;  /* already initialized */
 
         info->thread  = (struct thread *)grab_object( thread );
         info->process = (struct process *)grab_object( process );
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ void init_process( struct thread *thread )
     if (!process->handles)
     {
         fatal_protocol_error( thread, "Failed to allocate handle table\n" );
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     /* connect to the window station and desktop */
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ void init_process( struct thread *thread )
     connect_process_desktop( process, NULL, 0 );
     thread->desktop = process->desktop;
 
-    if (!info) return;
+    if (!info) return 0;
 
     /* retrieve the main exe file */
     if (info->exe_file) process->exe.file = (struct file *)grab_object( info->exe_file );
@@ -369,6 +369,8 @@ void init_process( struct thread *thread )
 
     if (!(process->create_flags & CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP))
         process->group_id = parent->group_id;
+
+    return info->data_size;
 }
 
 /* destroy a process when its refcount is 0 */
@@ -967,8 +969,6 @@ DECL_HANDLER(get_startup_info)
 DECL_HANDLER(init_process)
 {
     reply->server_start = server_start_ticks;
-    if (current->process->startup_info)
-        reply->info_size = current->process->startup_info->data_size;
 }
 
 /* signal the end of the process initialization */
diff --git a/server/process.h b/server/process.h
index c538bb2a2c..02c36021fe 100644
--- a/server/process.h
+++ b/server/process.h
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ extern unsigned int alloc_ptid( void *ptr );
 extern void free_ptid( unsigned int id );
 extern void *get_ptid_entry( unsigned int id );
 extern struct thread *create_process( int fd );
-extern void init_process( struct thread *thread );
+extern size_t init_process( struct thread *thread );
 extern struct thread *get_process_first_thread( struct process *process );
 extern struct process *get_process_from_id( process_id_t id );
 extern struct process *get_process_from_handle( obj_handle_t handle, unsigned int access );
diff --git a/server/protocol.def b/server/protocol.def
index 8882a7adb2..e9458abfd3 100644
--- a/server/protocol.def
+++ b/server/protocol.def
@@ -241,7 +241,6 @@ struct security_descriptor
 @REQ(init_process)
 @REPLY
     unsigned int server_start; /* server start time (GetTickCount) */
-    size_t       info_size;    /* total size of startup info */
 @END
 
 
@@ -284,6 +283,7 @@ struct security_descriptor
 @REPLY
     process_id_t pid;          /* process id of the new thread's process */
     thread_id_t  tid;          /* thread id of the new thread */
+    size_t       info_size;    /* total size of startup info */
     int          version;      /* protocol version */
 @END
 
diff --git a/server/thread.c b/server/thread.c
index a05e221b07..f1f4f271a9 100644
--- a/server/thread.c
+++ b/server/thread.c
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ DECL_HANDLER(init_thread)
     {
         process->peb      = req->peb;
         process->ldt_copy = req->ldt_copy;
-        init_process( current );
+        reply->info_size  = init_process( current );
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/server/trace.c b/server/trace.c
index 998025a08a..03e2a2ae56 100644
--- a/server/trace.c
+++ b/server/trace.c
@@ -612,8 +612,7 @@ static void dump_init_process_request( const struct init_process_request *req )
 
 static void dump_init_process_reply( const struct init_process_reply *req )
 {
-    fprintf( stderr, " server_start=%08x,", req->server_start );
-    fprintf( stderr, " info_size=%d", req->info_size );
+    fprintf( stderr, " server_start=%08x", req->server_start );
 }
 
 static void dump_get_startup_info_request( const struct get_startup_info_request *req )
@@ -663,6 +662,7 @@ static void dump_init_thread_reply( const struct init_thread_reply *req )
 {
     fprintf( stderr, " pid=%04x,", req->pid );
     fprintf( stderr, " tid=%04x,", req->tid );
+    fprintf( stderr, " info_size=%d,", req->info_size );
     fprintf( stderr, " version=%d", req->version );
 }