diff --git a/src/service.c b/src/service.c
index 55edf163..dcd88cbe 100644
--- a/src/service.c
+++ b/src/service.c
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ static int service_start(svc_t *svc)
 #endif
 		if (svc->log.enabled && !svc->log.null)
 			waitpid(pid, NULL, 0);
-		exit(status);
+		_exit(status);
 	} else if (log_is_debug()) {
 		char buf[CMD_SIZE] = "";