diff --git a/i3bar/src/child.c b/i3bar/src/child.c
index 3f927b45..08d2bed9 100644
--- a/i3bar/src/child.c
+++ b/i3bar/src/child.c
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ void start_child(char *command) {
  */
 void kill_child() {
     if (child_pid != 0) {
-        kill(child_pid, SIGQUIT);
+        kill(child_pid, SIGTERM);
     }
     cleanup();
 }