diff --git a/src/libCom/osi/epicsThread.cpp b/src/libCom/osi/epicsThread.cpp
index 55f9e5872..ed016f47e 100644
--- a/src/libCom/osi/epicsThread.cpp
+++ b/src/libCom/osi/epicsThread.cpp
@@ -169,6 +169,8 @@ bool epicsThread::exitWait ( const double delay ) throw ()
             "epicsThread::exitWait()\n" );
         epicsThreadSleep ( epicsMin ( delay, 5.0 ) );
     }
+    // the event mechanism is used for other purposes
+    this->event.signal ();
     return this->terminated;
 }