diff --git a/PILOTVERSION b/PILOTVERSION
index 2fb403f4..c0387ef0 100644
--- a/PILOTVERSION
+++ b/PILOTVERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.9.2.23b
\ No newline at end of file
+3.9.2.23
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pilot/util/constants.py b/pilot/util/constants.py
index 1334b93b..2f0ae675 100644
--- a/pilot/util/constants.py
+++ b/pilot/util/constants.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 RELEASE = '3'   # released number should be fixed at 3 for Pilot 3
 VERSION = '9'   # version number is '1' for first release, '0' until then, increased for bigger updates
 REVISION = '2'  # revision number should be reset to '0' for every new version release, increased for small updates
-BUILD = '23'     # build number should be reset to '1' for every new development cycle
+BUILD = '24'     # build number should be reset to '1' for every new development cycle
 
 SUCCESS = 0
 FAILURE = 1
diff --git a/pilot/util/psutils.py b/pilot/util/psutils.py
index ba18e1b1..dbd4fbbd 100644
--- a/pilot/util/psutils.py
+++ b/pilot/util/psutils.py
@@ -321,3 +321,23 @@ def find_actual_payload_pid(bash_pid: int, payload_cmd: str) -> int or None:
 
     logger.warning(f'could not find payload PID for bash PID {bash_pid}')
     return None
+
+
+def find_lingering_processes(parent_pid: int) -> list:
+    """
+    Find processes that are still running after the specified parent process has terminated.
+
+    :param parent_pid: The PID of the parent process (int)
+    :return: A list of lingering process PIDs (list).
+    """
+    if not _is_psutil_available:
+        logger.warning('psutil not available, cannot find lingering processes - aborting')
+        return []
+
+    lingering_processes = []
+    parent_process = psutil.Process(parent_pid)
+    for child in parent_process.children(recursive=True):
+        if child.status() != psutil.STATUS_ZOMBIE:
+            lingering_processes.append(child.pid)
+
+    return lingering_processes