diff --git a/arch/um/drivers/chan_user.c b/arch/um/drivers/chan_user.c
index a66e556012c4..1434114b2f34 100644
--- a/arch/um/drivers/chan_user.c
+++ b/arch/um/drivers/chan_user.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <signal.h>
 #include <termios.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
+#include <sys/prctl.h>
 #include "chan_user.h"
 #include <os.h>
 #include <um_malloc.h>
@@ -161,6 +162,8 @@ static __noreturn int winch_thread(void *arg)
 	int count;
 	char c = 1;
 
+	prctl(PR_SET_PDEATHSIG, SIGKILL);
+
 	pty_fd = data->pty_fd;
 	pipe_fd = data->pipe_fd;
 	count = write(pipe_fd, &c, sizeof(c));