diff --git a/common/rfb/SDesktop.h b/common/rfb/SDesktop.h
index 6118246..0060aa2 100644
--- a/common/rfb/SDesktop.h
+++ b/common/rfb/SDesktop.h
@@ -75,6 +75,12 @@
     virtual void queryConnection(network::Socket* sock,
                                  const char* userName) = 0;
 
+    // terminate() is called by the server when it wishes to terminate
+    // itself, e.g. because it was configured to terminate when no one is
+    // using it.
+
+    virtual void terminate() = 0;
+
     // setScreenLayout() requests to reconfigure the framebuffer and/or
     // the layout of screens.
     virtual unsigned int setScreenLayout(int __unused_attr fb_width,
diff --git a/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx b/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
index 352b80f..601e636 100644
--- a/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
+++ b/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
@@ -574,13 +574,13 @@
     return true;
   } else if (t == &idleTimer) {
     slog.info("MaxIdleTime reached, exiting");
-    exit(0);
+    desktop->terminate();
   } else if (t == &disconnectTimer) {
     slog.info("MaxDisconnectionTime reached, exiting");
-    exit(0);
+    desktop->terminate();
   } else if (t == &connectTimer) {
     slog.info("MaxConnectionTime reached, exiting");
-    exit(0);
+    desktop->terminate();
   }
 
   return false;
diff --git a/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.cxx b/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.cxx
index 9a047c8..3e67fad 100644
--- a/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.cxx
+++ b/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.cxx
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
  */
 
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <signal.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
 
 #include <rfb/LogWriter.h>
 
@@ -273,6 +275,10 @@
   pb = 0;
 }
 
+void XDesktop::terminate() {
+  kill(getpid(), SIGTERM);
+}
+
 bool XDesktop::isRunning() {
   return running;
 }
diff --git a/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.h b/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.h
index 7d06061..3e85aac 100644
--- a/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.h
+++ b/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
   // -=- SDesktop interface
   virtual void start(rfb::VNCServer* vs);
   virtual void stop();
+  virtual void terminate();
   bool isRunning();
   virtual void queryConnection(network::Socket* sock,
                                const char* userName);
diff --git a/unix/xserver/hw/vnc/XserverDesktop.cc b/unix/xserver/hw/vnc/XserverDesktop.cc
index e61472b..d4891c3 100644
--- a/unix/xserver/hw/vnc/XserverDesktop.cc
+++ b/unix/xserver/hw/vnc/XserverDesktop.cc
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 //
 
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <signal.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <strings.h>
@@ -423,6 +424,11 @@
 // SDesktop callbacks
 
 
+void XserverDesktop::terminate()
+{
+  kill(getpid(), SIGTERM);
+}
+
 void XserverDesktop::pointerEvent(const Point& pos, int buttonMask)
 {
   vncPointerMove(pos.x + vncGetScreenX(screenIndex),
diff --git a/unix/xserver/hw/vnc/XserverDesktop.h b/unix/xserver/hw/vnc/XserverDesktop.h
index ff36b3b..1253935 100644
--- a/unix/xserver/hw/vnc/XserverDesktop.h
+++ b/unix/xserver/hw/vnc/XserverDesktop.h
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@
   // rfb::SDesktop callbacks
   virtual void start(rfb::VNCServer* vs);
   virtual void stop();
+  virtual void terminate();
   virtual void queryConnection(network::Socket* sock,
                                const char* userName);
   virtual void pointerEvent(const rfb::Point& pos, int buttonMask);
diff --git a/win/rfb_win32/SDisplay.cxx b/win/rfb_win32/SDisplay.cxx
index afb72ad..2cedc4a 100644
--- a/win/rfb_win32/SDisplay.cxx
+++ b/win/rfb_win32/SDisplay.cxx
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
     statusLocation(0), queryConnectionHandler(0), ledState(0)
 {
   updateEvent.h = CreateEvent(0, TRUE, FALSE, 0);
+  terminateEvent.h = CreateEvent(0, TRUE, FALSE, 0);
 }
 
 SDisplay::~SDisplay()
@@ -140,6 +141,11 @@
   if (statusLocation) *statusLocation = false;
 }
 
+void SDisplay::terminate()
+{
+  SetEvent(terminateEvent);
+}
+
 
 void SDisplay::queryConnection(network::Socket* sock,
                                const char* userName)
diff --git a/win/rfb_win32/SDisplay.h b/win/rfb_win32/SDisplay.h
index 76ddf50..6dbfabb 100644
--- a/win/rfb_win32/SDisplay.h
+++ b/win/rfb_win32/SDisplay.h
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 
       virtual void start(VNCServer* vs);
       virtual void stop();
+      virtual void terminate();
       virtual void queryConnection(network::Socket* sock,
                                    const char* userName);
       virtual void pointerEvent(const Point& pos, int buttonmask);
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@
       // -=- EventHandler interface
 
       HANDLE getUpdateEvent() {return updateEvent;}
+      HANDLE getTerminateEvent() {return terminateEvent;}
       virtual void processEvent(HANDLE event);
 
       // -=- Notification of whether or not SDisplay is started
@@ -161,6 +163,8 @@
 
       // -=- Event signalled to trigger an update to be flushed
       Handle updateEvent;
+      // -=- Event signalled to terminate the server
+      Handle terminateEvent;
 
       // -=- Where to write the active/inactive indicator to
       bool* statusLocation;
diff --git a/win/winvnc/VNCServerWin32.cxx b/win/winvnc/VNCServerWin32.cxx
index 03b1bca..e001449 100644
--- a/win/winvnc/VNCServerWin32.cxx
+++ b/win/winvnc/VNCServerWin32.cxx
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@
 
   // Register the desktop's event to be handled
   sockMgr.addEvent(desktop.getUpdateEvent(), &desktop);
+  sockMgr.addEvent(desktop.getTerminateEvent(), this);
 
   // Register the queued command event to be handled
   sockMgr.addEvent(commandEvent, this);
@@ -335,7 +336,8 @@
       command = NoCommand;
       commandSig->signal();
     }
-  } else if (event_ == sessionEvent.h) {
+  } else if ((event_ == sessionEvent.h) ||
+             (event_ == desktop.getTerminateEvent())) {
     stop();
   }
 }