diff --git a/nsinit/init.go b/nsinit/init.go
index 5d47b9505..c702c7901 100644
--- a/nsinit/init.go
+++ b/nsinit/init.go
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ func (ns *linuxNs) Init(container *libcontainer.Container, uncleanRootfs, consol
 			return fmt.Errorf("setctty %s", err)
 		}
 	}
-	if err := system.ParentDeathSignal(); err != nil {
+	// this is our best effort to let the process know that the parent has died and that it
+	// should it should act on it how it sees fit
+	if err := system.ParentDeathSignal(uintptr(syscall.SIGTERM)); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("parent death signal %s", err)
 	}
 	if err := setupNewMountNamespace(rootfs, container.Mounts, console, container.ReadonlyFs, container.NoPivotRoot); err != nil {