diff --git a/lib/config.cpp b/lib/config.cpp
index d2bc7392..790d1844 100644
--- a/lib/config.cpp
+++ b/lib/config.cpp
@@ -576,6 +576,11 @@ void Util::Config::activate(){
   is_active = true;
 }
 
+tthread::mutex * mutabort = 0;
+void Util::Config::setMutexAborter(void * mutex){
+  mutabort = (tthread::mutex*)mutex;
+}
+
 /// Basic signal handler. Sets is_active to false if it receives
 /// a SIGINT, SIGHUP or SIGTERM signal, reaps children for the SIGCHLD
 /// signal, and ignores all other signals.
@@ -584,8 +589,11 @@ void Util::Config::signal_handler(int signum, siginfo_t *sigInfo, void *ignore){
   case SIGINT: // these three signals will set is_active to false.
   case SIGHUP:
   case SIGTERM:
-    if (serv_sock_pointer){serv_sock_pointer->close();}
-    if (stdin){fclose(stdin);}
+    if (!mutabort || mutabort->try_lock()){
+      if (serv_sock_pointer){serv_sock_pointer->close();}
+      if (stdin){fclose(stdin);}
+      if (mutabort){mutabort->unlock();}
+    }
 #if DEBUG >= DLVL_DEVEL
     static int ctr = 0;
     if (!is_active && ++ctr > 4){BACKTRACE;}
diff --git a/lib/config.h b/lib/config.h
index d5b66ce6..819f9e63 100644
--- a/lib/config.h
+++ b/lib/config.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ namespace Util{
     static void signal_handler(int signum, siginfo_t *sigInfo, void *ignore);
 
   public:
+    static void setMutexAborter(void * mutex);
     // variables
     static bool is_active;     ///< Set to true by activate(), set to false by the signal handler.
     static bool is_restarting; ///< Set to true when restarting, set to false on boot.
diff --git a/src/controller/controller.cpp b/src/controller/controller.cpp
index 02cfc2e8..4975836e 100644
--- a/src/controller/controller.cpp
+++ b/src/controller/controller.cpp
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ int main_loop(int argc, char **argv){
   Controller::updateBandwidthConfig();
   createAccount(Controller::conf.getString("account"));
   Controller::conf.activate(); // activate early, so threads aren't killed.
+  Controller::conf.setMutexAborter(&Controller::configMutex);
 
 #if !defined(__CYGWIN__) && !defined(_WIN32)
   {
@@ -630,6 +631,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv){
   Controller::conf = Util::Config(argv[0]);
   Util::Config::binaryType = Util::CONTROLLER;
   Controller::conf.activate();
+  Controller::conf.setMutexAborter(&Controller::configMutex);
   if (getenv("ATHEIST")){return main_loop(argc, argv);}
   uint64_t reTimer = 0;
   while (Controller::conf.is_active){