diff --git a/iocsh b/iocsh
index 927fb65..c577b56 100755
--- a/iocsh
+++ b/iocsh
@@ -304,7 +304,10 @@ done
 }
 
 startup=/tmp/iocsh.startup.$$
-trap "stty sane; echo; rm -f $startup" EXIT TERM KILL
+
+# clean up and kill the softIoc when killed by any signal
+trap "kill -s SIGTERM 0; stty sane; echo; rm -f $startup; " EXIT
+
 {
 echo "# date=\"$(date)\""
 echo "# user=\"${USER:-$(whoami)}\""