diff --git a/src/service.c b/src/service.c
index 0c7e72cc..8e590055 100644
--- a/src/service.c
+++ b/src/service.c
@@ -977,20 +977,18 @@ int service_register(int type, char *cfg, struct rlimit rlimit[], char *file)
 			parse_cmdline_args(svc, cmd);
 			goto inetd_setup;
 		}
-		if (!id) {
-			int n = svc_next_id_int(cmd);
 
-			if (n) {
-				snprintf(id_str, sizeof(id_str), "%d", n);
-				id = id_str;
-			}
+		/* inetd services need a unique ID, so we must always set one. */
+		if (!id) {
+			snprintf(id_str, sizeof(id_str), "%d", svc_next_id_int(cmd));
+			id = id_str;
 		}
 	}
 recreate:
 #endif
 
 	if (!id)
-		id = "1";
+		id = "";
 
 	svc = svc_find(cmd, id);
 	if (!svc) {
diff --git a/src/svc.c b/src/svc.c
index 68fea45c..7b76e147 100644
--- a/src/svc.c
+++ b/src/svc.c
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ svc_t *svc_new(char *cmd, char *id, int type)
 
 	svc->type = type;
 	svc->job  = job;
-	strlcpy(svc->id, id, sizeof(svc->id));
+	if (id && id[0])
+		strlcpy(svc->id, id, sizeof(svc->id));
 	strlcpy(svc->cmd, cmd, sizeof(svc->cmd));
 
 	/* Default description, if missing */
@@ -535,7 +536,10 @@ int svc_enabled(svc_t *svc)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-/* Same base service, return unique ID as an integer */
+/*
+ * Same base service, return unique ID as an integer
+ * Note: intended for use with INETD services.
+ */
 int svc_next_id_int(char *cmd)
 {
 	int n = 1;
@@ -552,7 +556,7 @@ int svc_next_id_int(char *cmd)
 		n++;
 	}
 
-	return 0;
+	return 1;
 }
 
 int svc_is_unique(svc_t *svc)