diff --git a/connection/connection.go b/connection/connection.go
index fbd8d37b5..ad37321e8 100644
--- a/connection/connection.go
+++ b/connection/connection.go
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ func ExitOnConnectionLoss() func() bool {
 		if err := ioutil.WriteFile(terminationLogPath, []byte(terminationMsg), 0644); err != nil {
 			klog.Errorf("%s: %s", terminationLogPath, err)
 		}
-		klog.Fatalf(terminationMsg)
+		klog.Exit(terminationMsg)
+		// Not reached.
 		return false
 	}
 }