diff --git a/usr.bin/gzip/gzip.c b/usr.bin/gzip/gzip.c
index 9503762a5873..de9fe809aa19 100644
--- a/usr.bin/gzip/gzip.c
+++ b/usr.bin/gzip/gzip.c
@@ -1178,7 +1178,7 @@ sigint_handler(int signo __unused)
 
 	if (remove_file != NULL)
 		unlink(remove_file);
-	exit(2);
+	_exit(2);
 }
 #endif