diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifndef WIN32
+#include <attributes.h>
+#include <cerrno>
 #include <csignal>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #endif
@@ -91,6 +93,31 @@
 #define MIN_CORE_FILEDESCRIPTORS 150
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * The PID file facilities.
+ */
+#ifndef WIN32
+static const char *BITCOIN_PID_FILENAME = "bitcoind.pid";
+
+static fs::path GetPidFile() {
+    return AbsPathForConfigVal(
+        fs::path(gArgs.GetArg("-pid", BITCOIN_PID_FILENAME)));
+}
+
+NODISCARD static bool CreatePidFile() {
+    FILE *file = fsbridge::fopen(GetPidFile(), "w");
+    if (file) {
+        fprintf(file, "%d\n", getpid());
+        fclose(file);
+        return true;
+    } else {
+        return InitError(strprintf(_("Unable to create the PID file '%s': %s"),
+                                   GetPidFile().string(),
+                                   std::strerror(errno)));
+    }
+}
+#endif
+
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //
 // Shutdown
@@ -276,9 +303,12 @@
 
 #ifndef WIN32
     try {
-        fs::remove(GetPidFile());
+        if (!fs::remove(GetPidFile())) {
+            LogPrintf("%s: Unable to remove PID file: File does not exist\n",
+                      __func__);
+        }
     } catch (const fs::filesystem_error &e) {
-        LogPrintf("%s: Unable to remove pidfile: %s\n", __func__, e.what());
+        LogPrintf("%s: Unable to remove PID file: %s\n", __func__, e.what());
     }
 #endif
     interfaces.chain_clients.clear();
@@ -1888,7 +1918,10 @@
     const CChainParams &chainparams = config.GetChainParams();
 
 #ifndef WIN32
-    CreatePidFile(GetPidFile(), getpid());
+    if (!CreatePidFile()) {
+        // Detailed error printed inside CreatePidFile().
+        return false;
+    }
 #endif
 
     BCLog::Logger &logger = LogInstance();
diff --git a/src/util/system.h b/src/util/system.h
--- a/src/util/system.h
+++ b/src/util/system.h
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
 int64_t GetStartupTime();
 
 extern const char *const BITCOIN_CONF_FILENAME;
-extern const char *const BITCOIN_PID_FILENAME;
 
 /** Translate a message to the native language of the user. */
 const extern std::function<std::string(const char *)> G_TRANSLATION_FUN;
@@ -87,10 +86,6 @@
 const fs::path &GetDataDir(bool fNetSpecific = true);
 void ClearDatadirCache();
 fs::path GetConfigFile(const std::string &confPath);
-#ifndef WIN32
-fs::path GetPidFile();
-void CreatePidFile(const fs::path &path, pid_t pid);
-#endif
 #ifdef WIN32
 fs::path GetSpecialFolderPath(int nFolder, bool fCreate = true);
 #endif
diff --git a/src/util/system.cpp b/src/util/system.cpp
--- a/src/util/system.cpp
+++ b/src/util/system.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,6 @@
 const int64_t nStartupTime = GetTime();
 
 const char *const BITCOIN_CONF_FILENAME = "bitcoin.conf";
-const char *const BITCOIN_PID_FILENAME = "bitcoind.pid";
 
 ArgsManager gArgs;
 
@@ -1101,21 +1100,6 @@
     return CBaseChainParams::MAIN;
 }
 
-#ifndef WIN32
-fs::path GetPidFile() {
-    return AbsPathForConfigVal(
-        fs::path(gArgs.GetArg("-pid", BITCOIN_PID_FILENAME)));
-}
-
-void CreatePidFile(const fs::path &path, pid_t pid) {
-    FILE *file = fsbridge::fopen(path, "w");
-    if (file) {
-        fprintf(file, "%d\n", pid);
-        fclose(file);
-    }
-}
-#endif
-
 bool RenameOver(fs::path src, fs::path dest) {
 #ifdef WIN32
     return MoveFileExA(src.string().c_str(), dest.string().c_str(),