diff --git a/src/utils/clone3.rs b/src/utils/clone3.rs
index 672d3256..b6ef0d0f 100644
--- a/src/utils/clone3.rs
+++ b/src/utils/clone3.rs
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ pub fn ensure_reaper() -> c::pid_t {
     if let Ok(id) = env::var(REAPER_VAR) {
         if let Ok(id) = c::pid_t::from_str(&id) {
             if uapi::getppid() == id {
+                set_deathsig();
                 return id;
             }
         }
@@ -157,6 +158,7 @@ pub fn ensure_reaper() -> c::pid_t {
         unsafe {
             env::set_var(REAPER_VAR, reaper_pid.to_string());
         }
+        set_deathsig();
         return reaper_pid;
     };
     set_process_name("jay reaper");
@@ -167,3 +169,9 @@ pub fn ensure_reaper() -> c::pid_t {
     }
     process::exit(1);
 }
+
+fn set_deathsig() {
+    unsafe {
+        c::prctl(c::PR_SET_PDEATHSIG, c::SIGKILL as c::c_ulong);
+    }
+}