diff --git a/pytools/prefork.py b/pytools/prefork.py
index 1e58c7ed24ac60303891b3e01e230af4c5514479..8e27ecbc5bbfe48532f6f8e1350d594b7f7b7d4c 100644
--- a/pytools/prefork.py
+++ b/pytools/prefork.py
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ def _fork_server(sock):
     finally:
         sock.close()
 
-    import sys
-    sys.exit(0)
+    import os
+    os._exit(0)