diff --git a/cmd/kubexit/main.go b/cmd/kubexit/main.go
index 827cd95..10629a9 100644
--- a/cmd/kubexit/main.go
+++ b/cmd/kubexit/main.go
@@ -171,9 +171,9 @@ func main() {
 
 func waitForBirthDeps(birthDeps []string, namespace, podName string, timeout time.Duration) error {
 	// Cancel context on SIGTERM to trigger graceful exit
-	ctx := withCancelOnSignal(context.Background(), syscall.SIGTERM)
+	ctxParent, parentCancel := withCancelOnSignal(context.Background(), syscall.SIGTERM)
 
-	ctx, stopPodWatcher := context.WithTimeout(ctx, timeout)
+	ctx, stopPodWatcher := context.WithTimeout(ctxParent, timeout)
 	// Stop pod watcher on exit, if not sooner
 	defer stopPodWatcher()
 
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ func waitForBirthDeps(birthDeps []string, namespace, podName string, timeout tim
 
 	// Block until all birth deps are ready
 	<-ctx.Done()
+	parentCancel()
 	err = ctx.Err()
 	if err == context.DeadlineExceeded {
 		return fmt.Errorf("timed out waiting for birth deps to be ready: %s", timeout)
@@ -200,7 +201,7 @@ func waitForBirthDeps(birthDeps []string, namespace, podName string, timeout tim
 }
 
 // withCancelOnSignal calls cancel when one of the specified signals is recieved.
-func withCancelOnSignal(ctx context.Context, signals ...os.Signal) context.Context {
+func withCancelOnSignal(ctx context.Context, signals ...os.Signal) (context.Context, context.CancelFunc) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 
 	sigCh := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
@@ -214,16 +215,15 @@ func withCancelOnSignal(ctx context.Context, signals ...os.Signal) context.Conte
 				if !ok {
 					return
 				}
-				log.Printf("Received shutdown signal: %v", s)
-				cancel()
+				log.Printf("Received shutdown signal: %v, exiting", s)
+				os.Exit(0)
 			case <-ctx.Done():
 				signal.Reset()
-				close(sigCh)
 			}
 		}
 	}()
 
-	return ctx
+	return ctx, cancel
 }
 
 // wait for the child to exit and return the exit code