There is currently immense interest in understanding the biological consequences of aberrant necroptosis. The recently uncovered role for X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in blocking tumor necrosis factor-dependent necroptosis explains, at least in part, the systemic hyperinflammatory syndrome XLP-2. However, it also points to rather unexpected differences between XIAP and the related proteins baculoviral IAP repeat containing 2 and 3 (cIAP1/2).