diff --git a/gdk/x11/gdkdisplay-x11.c b/gdk/x11/gdkdisplay-x11.c
index 2911a3a6b7..c4d776381a 100644
--- a/gdk/x11/gdkdisplay-x11.c
+++ b/gdk/x11/gdkdisplay-x11.c
@@ -2372,7 +2372,7 @@ _gdk_x11_display_error_event (GdkDisplay  *display,
 #else /* !G_ENABLE_DEBUG */
       g_warning ("%s\n", msg);
 
-      exit (1);
+      _exit (1);
 #endif /* G_ENABLE_DEBUG */
     }
 }
diff --git a/gdk/x11/gdkmain-x11.c b/gdk/x11/gdkmain-x11.c
index e4cce5f9c6..dc57ce2d95 100644
--- a/gdk/x11/gdkmain-x11.c
+++ b/gdk/x11/gdkmain-x11.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ gdk_x_io_error (Display *display)
                  display ? DisplayString (display) : gdk_get_display_arg_name ());
     }
 
-  exit(1);
+  _exit (1);
 }
 
 /* X error handler. Keep the name the same because people are used to