Bug#33829: dpkg: if there is no utmp/wtmp entry for the shell, dpkg can't install a package

[Ian Jackson <ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk>]

frb@umr.edu writes ("Bug#33829: dpkg: if there is no utmp/wtmp entry for the shell, dpkg can't install a package"):
> Package: dpkg
> Version: 1.4.1.1
> 
> 
> This is just the most recent package I installed, but most if not all packages
> I install from an xterm that has no utmp/wtmp entry fails with this error.

This has nothng to do with utmp/wtmp entries.  dpkg is inheriting an
incorrect setting for SIGPIPE from something.  This is not a bug in
dpkg.

Are you using Gnome ?  If so, then this is a symptom of a bug in
gnome-session.

Ian.