diff --git a/Code/Tools/AssetProcessor/Platform/Linux/native/FileWatcher/FileWatcher_linux.cpp b/Code/Tools/AssetProcessor/Platform/Linux/native/FileWatcher/FileWatcher_linux.cpp
index 2d3e671999..b7f7affd6d 100644
--- a/Code/Tools/AssetProcessor/Platform/Linux/native/FileWatcher/FileWatcher_linux.cpp
+++ b/Code/Tools/AssetProcessor/Platform/Linux/native/FileWatcher/FileWatcher_linux.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ struct FolderRootWatch::PlatformImplementation
     {
         if (m_iNotifyHandle < 0)
         {
-            m_iNotifyHandle = inotify_init();
+            // The CLOEXEC flag prevents the inotify watchers from copying on fork/exec
+            m_iNotifyHandle = inotify_init1(IN_CLOEXEC);
         }
         return (m_iNotifyHandle >= 0);
     }