diff --git a/mitogen/parent.py b/mitogen/parent.py
index fc5433ed..3f508f21 100644
--- a/mitogen/parent.py
+++ b/mitogen/parent.py
@@ -115,6 +115,11 @@ def _ioctl_cast(n):
     return n
 
 
+# If not :data:`None`, called prior to exec() of any new child process. Used by
+# :func:`mitogen.utils.reset_affinity` to allow the child to be freely
+# scheduled.
+_preexec_hook = None
+
 # Get PTY number; asm-generic/ioctls.h
 LINUX_TIOCGPTN = _ioctl_cast(2147767344)
 
@@ -262,7 +267,13 @@ def detach_popen(**kwargs):
     # handling, without tying the surrounding code into managing a Popen
     # object, which isn't possible for at least :mod:`mitogen.fork`. This
     # should be replaced by a swappable helper class in a future version.
-    proc = subprocess.Popen(**kwargs)
+    real_preexec_fn = kwargs.pop('preexec_fn', None)
+    def preexec_fn():
+        if _preexec_hook:
+            _preexec_hook()
+        if real_preexec_fn:
+            real_preexec_fn()
+    proc = subprocess.Popen(preexec_fn=preexec_fn, **kwargs)
     proc._child_created = False
     return proc.pid
 
diff --git a/mitogen/utils.py b/mitogen/utils.py
index b5482afa..e24134e1 100644
--- a/mitogen/utils.py
+++ b/mitogen/utils.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ except ImportError:
 import mitogen
 import mitogen.core
 import mitogen.master
+import mitogen.parent
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger('mitogen')
@@ -60,16 +61,42 @@ if ctypes:
         _sched_setaffinity = None
 
 
-def reset_affinity():
+def reset_affinity(clear=False):
     """
+    Bind this process to a randomly selected CPU. If done prior to starting
+    threads, all threads will be bound to the same CPU. This call is a no-op on
+    systems other than Linux.
+
+    :param bool clear:
+        If :data:`True`, clear any prior binding.
+
+    A hook is installed that causes `reset_affinity(clear=True)` to run in the
+    child of any process created with :func:`mitogen.parent.detach_popen`,
+    ensuring CPU-intensive children like SSH are not forced to share the same
+    core as the (otherwise potentially very busy) parent.
+
+    Threads bound to the same CPU share cache and experience the lowest
+    possible inter-thread roundtrip latency, for example ensuring the minimum
+    possible time required for :class:`mitogen.service.Pool` to interact with
+    :class:`mitogen.core.Broker`, as required for every message transmitted or
+    received.
+
+    Binding threads of a Python process to one CPU makes sense, as they are
+    otherwise unable to operate in parallel, and all must acquire the same lock
+    prior to executing.
     """
     if _sched_setaffinity is None:
         return
 
-    cpus = multiprocessing.cpu_count()
-    cpu = random.randint(0, cpus - 1)
-    bits = struct.pack('L', 1 << cpu)
-    _sched_setaffinity(os.getpid(), len(bits), bits)
+    if clear:
+        mask = 0xffffffff
+    else:
+        mask = 1 << random.randint(0, multiprocessing.cpu_count() - 1)
+
+    s = struct.pack('L', mask)
+    _sched_setaffinity(os.getpid(), len(s), s)
+    mitogen.parent._preexec_hook = lambda: reset_affinity(clear=True)
+
 
 def setup_gil():
     """
diff --git a/tests/bench/latch_roundtrip.py b/tests/bench/latch_roundtrip.py
index e248c803..51492afc 100644
--- a/tests/bench/latch_roundtrip.py
+++ b/tests/bench/latch_roundtrip.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import mitogen
 import mitogen.utils
 
 mitogen.utils.setup_gil()
+mitogen.utils.reset_affinity()
 
 X = 20000
 
diff --git a/tests/utils_test.py b/tests/utils_test.py
index 17b260db..8a270a5f 100644
--- a/tests/utils_test.py
+++ b/tests/utils_test.py
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
+import os
+import tempfile
+
 import unittest2
+import mock
 
 import mitogen.core
+import mitogen.parent
 import mitogen.master
 import mitogen.utils
 from mitogen.core import b
@@ -19,6 +24,53 @@ def func(router):
     return router
 
 
+class ResetAffinityTest(testlib.TestCase):
+    func = staticmethod(mitogen.utils.reset_affinity)
+
+    def _get_cpus(self, path='/proc/self/status'):
+        fp = open(path)
+        try:
+            for line in fp:
+                if line.startswith('Cpus_allowed'):
+                    return int(line.split()[1], 16)
+        finally:
+            fp.close()
+
+    @mock.patch('random.randint')
+    def test_set_reset(self, randint):
+        randint.return_value = 3
+        before = self._get_cpus()
+        self.func()
+        self.assertEquals(self._get_cpus(), 1 << 3)
+        self.func(clear=True)
+        self.assertEquals(self._get_cpus(), before)
+
+    @mock.patch('random.randint')
+    def test_clear_on_popen(self, randint):
+        randint.return_value = 3
+        tf = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile()
+        try:
+            before = self._get_cpus()
+            self.func()
+            my_cpu = self._get_cpus()
+
+            pid = mitogen.parent.detach_popen(
+                args=['cp', '/proc/self/status', tf.name]
+            )
+            os.waitpid(pid, 0)
+
+            his_cpu = self._get_cpus(tf.name)
+            self.assertNotEquals(my_cpu, his_cpu)
+            self.func(clear=True)
+        finally:
+            tf.close()
+
+ResetAffinityTest = unittest2.skipIf(
+    reason='Linux only',
+    condition=os.uname()[0] != 'Linux'
+)(ResetAffinityTest)
+
+
 class RunWithRouterTest(testlib.TestCase):
     # test_shutdown_on_exception
     # test_shutdown_on_success