We consider the persistence probability of a certain fractional Gaussian process $$M^H$$
M
H
that appears in the Mandelbrot-van Ness representation of fractional Brownian motion. This process is self-similar and smooth. We show that the persistence exponent of $$M^H$$
M
H
exists, is positive and continuous in the Hurst parameter H. Further, the asymptotic behaviour of the persistence exponent for $$H\downarrow 0$$
H
↓
0
and $$H\uparrow 1$$
H
↑
1
, respectively, is studied. Finally, for $$H\rightarrow 1/2$$
H
→
1
/
2
, the suitably renormalized process converges to a non-trivial limit with non-vanishing persistence exponent, contrary to the fact that $$M^{1/2}$$
M
1
/
2
vanishes.