A parachute flare igniter assembly includes a novel safety for arresting the motion of a slider when subjected to external forces, but allows slider motion when subjected to intended cable actuation forces. The igniter safety includes a housing, a slider, a cable and a sleeve. The slider, connected to the cable, is slidably received within the housing. The cable moves the slider by applying a cable force conventionally obtained by actuation of a parachute associated with the flare and connected to an end of the cable opposite an end connected to the slider. The sleeve is connected to the cable and is disposed between the housing and the slider, so that the sleeve will arrest the slider with respect to the housing when the cable force is not present. A flare and a method of providing a safety in an igniter assembly is also provided.