diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a7dab6d..5cc6343 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.2.2] - 2026-03-18
+
+- Reset inherited singleton state after `fork()` by registering a child-only `os.register_at_fork()` handler [#26]
+- Add POSIX fork tests covering inherited lock state and fresh singleton reinitialization [#26]
+
 ## [1.2.1] - 2026-02-25
 
 - Fix SDK version header: use correct header name `X-Reforge-SDK-Version` and value format `sdk-python-{version}` to match all other SDKs [#25]
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e3f175c..e95b714 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "sdk-reforge"
-version = "1.2.1"
+version = "1.2.2"
 description = "Python sdk for Reforge Feature Flags and Config as a Service: https://www.reforge.com"
 license = "MIT"
 authors = ["Michael Berkowitz <michael.berkowitz@gmail.com>", "James Kebinger <james.kebinger@reforge.com>"]
diff --git a/sdk_reforge/VERSION b/sdk_reforge/VERSION
index 6085e94..23aa839 100644
--- a/sdk_reforge/VERSION
+++ b/sdk_reforge/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.2.1
+1.2.2
diff --git a/sdk_reforge/__init__.py b/sdk_reforge/__init__.py
index 4c6414f..bb8437b 100644
--- a/sdk_reforge/__init__.py
+++ b/sdk_reforge/__init__.py
@@ -81,6 +81,18 @@ def _get_version() -> str:
 __lock = _ReadWriteLock()
 
 
+def _reset_singleton_after_fork() -> None:
+    """Drop inherited singleton state in forked children."""
+    global __base_sdk
+    global __lock
+    __base_sdk = None
+    __lock = _ReadWriteLock()
+
+
+if hasattr(os, "register_at_fork"):
+    os.register_at_fork(after_in_child=_reset_singleton_after_fork)
+
+
 def set_options(options: Options) -> None:
     """Configure the SDK. SDK will be instantiated lazily with these options. Setting them again will have no effect unless reset_instance is called"""
     global __options
diff --git a/sdk_reforge/_sse_watchdog.py b/sdk_reforge/_sse_watchdog.py
index e39eff6..642a010 100644
--- a/sdk_reforge/_sse_watchdog.py
+++ b/sdk_reforge/_sse_watchdog.py
@@ -82,8 +82,9 @@ def start(self) -> None:
     def stop(self) -> None:
         """Stop the watchdog thread."""
         self._stop.set()
-        if self._thread:
-            self._thread.join(timeout=5)
+        thread = self._thread
+        if thread and thread.is_alive():
+            thread.join(timeout=5)
 
     def _run(self) -> None:
         """Main watchdog loop."""
diff --git a/tests/test_forking.py b/tests/test_forking.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a8aadb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_forking.py
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import os
+import threading
+
+import pytest
+
+import sdk_reforge
+from sdk_reforge import Options
+
+
+def _read_exact(fd: int, size: int) -> bytes:
+    chunks = []
+    remaining = size
+    while remaining > 0:
+        chunk = os.read(fd, remaining)
+        if not chunk:
+            break
+        chunks.append(chunk)
+        remaining -= len(chunk)
+    return b"".join(chunks)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not hasattr(os, "fork"), reason="requires os.fork")
+def test_child_process_replaces_inherited_singleton_lock() -> None:
+    sdk_reforge.reset_instance()
+
+    lock = getattr(sdk_reforge, "__lock")
+    ready = threading.Event()
+    release = threading.Event()
+
+    def hold_lock() -> None:
+        with lock.write_locked():
+            ready.set()
+            release.wait(timeout=5)
+
+    holder = threading.Thread(target=hold_lock)
+    holder.start()
+    ready.wait(timeout=2)
+
+    read_fd, write_fd = os.pipe()
+    pid = os.fork()
+    if pid == 0:
+        try:
+            os.close(read_fd)
+            sdk_reforge.set_options(
+                Options(
+                    reforge_datasources="LOCAL_ONLY",
+                    collect_sync_interval=None,
+                )
+            )
+            os.write(write_fd, b"ok")
+        finally:
+            os.close(write_fd)
+            os._exit(0)
+
+    os.close(write_fd)
+    try:
+        os.waitpid(pid, 0)
+        assert _read_exact(read_fd, 2) == b"ok"
+    finally:
+        os.close(read_fd)
+        release.set()
+        holder.join(timeout=2)
+        sdk_reforge.reset_instance()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not hasattr(os, "fork"), reason="requires os.fork")
+def test_child_process_creates_fresh_singleton_sdk_instance() -> None:
+    sdk_reforge.reset_instance()
+    sdk_reforge.set_options(
+        Options(
+            reforge_datasources="LOCAL_ONLY",
+            collect_sync_interval=None,
+        )
+    )
+    parent_sdk = sdk_reforge.get_sdk()
+    parent_hash = parent_sdk.instance_hash
+
+    read_fd, write_fd = os.pipe()
+    pid = os.fork()
+    if pid == 0:
+        try:
+            os.close(read_fd)
+            child_sdk = sdk_reforge.get_sdk()
+            payload = child_sdk.instance_hash.encode("utf-8")
+            os.write(write_fd, payload)
+        finally:
+            os.close(write_fd)
+            os._exit(0)
+
+    os.close(write_fd)
+    try:
+        os.waitpid(pid, 0)
+        child_hash = _read_exact(read_fd, len(parent_hash)).decode("utf-8")
+        assert child_hash
+        assert child_hash != parent_hash
+    finally:
+        os.close(read_fd)
+        sdk_reforge.reset_instance()
diff --git a/tests/test_sse_watchdog.py b/tests/test_sse_watchdog.py
index 2112ec6..e2fe759 100644
--- a/tests/test_sse_watchdog.py
+++ b/tests/test_sse_watchdog.py
@@ -209,6 +209,18 @@ def test_stop_terminates_thread(self) -> None:
         watchdog.stop()
         self.assertFalse(watchdog._thread.is_alive())
 
+    def test_stop_before_start_is_noop(self) -> None:
+        """Verify stop() is safe before the watchdog thread is started"""
+        watchdog = SSEWatchdog(
+            self.config_client,
+            self.poll_fallback_fn,
+            self.get_sse_client_fn,
+        )
+
+        watchdog.stop()
+
+        self.poll_fallback_fn.assert_not_called()
+
     def test_stops_when_shutting_down(self) -> None:
         """Verify watchdog stops when config_client is shutting down"""
         self.config_client.is_shutting_down.return_value = True