diff --git a/lib/qless/worker/forking.rb b/lib/qless/worker/forking.rb
index c97082b5..f8a3355e 100644
--- a/lib/qless/worker/forking.rb
+++ b/lib/qless/worker/forking.rb
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ def initialize(reserver, options = {})
         @modules = []
 
         @sandbox_mutex = Mutex.new
+        # A list of [signal_name, exit_parent]
+        @signal_queue = []
       end
 
       # Because we spawn a new worker, we need to apply all the modules that
@@ -52,27 +54,46 @@ def spawn
         worker
       end
 
+      # If @sandbox_mutex is free, handles a signal now, shutting down workers
+      # and possibly the main thread. If @sandbox_mutex is locked, adds the signal
+      # to the signal queue, to be handled as soon as it can (see
+      # process_signal_queue as called by the main loop)
+      def handle_signal(signal_name, exit_parent)
+        if @sandbox_mutex.try_lock
+          stop!(signal_name, exit_parent)
+          @sandbox_mutex.unlock
+        else
+          @signal_queue << [signal_name, exit_parent]
+        end
+      end
+
+      # Process any signals (such as TERM) that could not be processed
+      # immediately due to @sandbox_mutex being in use
+      def process_signal_queue
+        until @signal_queue.empty?
+          signal_name, exit_parent = @signal_queue.shift
+          stop!(signal_name, exit_parent)
+        end
+      end
+
       # Register our handling of signals
       def register_signal_handlers
         # If we're the parent process, we mostly want to forward the signals on
         # to the child processes. It's just that sometimes we want to wait for
         # them and then exit
         trap('TERM') do
-          stop!('TERM')
-          exit
+          handle_signal('TERM', true)
         end
 
         trap('INT') do
-          stop!('TERM')
-          exit
+          handle_signal('TERM', true)
         end
 
         begin
           trap('QUIT') do
-            stop!('QUIT')
-            exit
+            handle_signal('QUIT', true)
           end
-          trap('USR1') { stop!('KILL') }
+          trap('USR1') { handle_signal('KILL', false) }
           trap('USR2') { stop('USR2') }
           trap('CONT') { stop('CONT') }
         rescue ArgumentError
@@ -87,6 +108,8 @@ def run
         # Now keep an eye on our child processes, spawn replacements as needed
         loop do
           begin
+            process_signal_queue
+
             # Don't wait on any processes if we're already in shutdown mode.
             break if @shutdown
 
@@ -125,10 +148,12 @@ def stop(signal = 'QUIT')
         end
       end
 
-      # Signal all the children and wait for them to exit
-      def stop!(signal = 'QUIT')
+      # Signal all the children and wait for them to exit. Optionally have this process (parent) die, too.
+      # Should only be called when we have the lock on @sandbox_mutex
+      def stop!(signal = 'QUIT', exit_parent = false)
         shutdown
         shutdown_sandboxes(signal)
+        exit  if exit_parent
       end
 
     private
@@ -155,33 +180,32 @@ def startup_sandboxes
         end
       end
 
+      # Should only be called when we have a lock on @sandbox_mutex
       def shutdown_sandboxes(signal)
-        @sandbox_mutex.synchronize do
-          # First, send the signal
-          stop(signal)
-
-          # Wait for each of our children
-          log(:warn, 'Waiting for child processes')
-
-          until @sandboxes.empty?
-            begin
-              pid, _ = Process.wait2
-              log(:warn, "Child #{pid} stopped")
-              @sandboxes.delete(pid)
-            rescue SystemCallError
-              break
-            end
-          end
+        # First, send the signal
+        stop(signal)
 
-          log(:warn, 'All children have stopped')
+        # Wait for each of our children
+        log(:warn, 'Waiting for child processes')
 
-          # If there were any children processes we couldn't wait for, log it
-          @sandboxes.keys.each do |cpid|
-            log(:warn, "Could not wait for child #{cpid}")
+        until @sandboxes.empty?
+          begin
+            pid, _ = Process.wait2
+            log(:warn, "Child #{pid} stopped")
+            @sandboxes.delete(pid)
+          rescue SystemCallError
+            break
           end
+        end
+
+        log(:warn, 'All children have stopped')
 
-          @sandboxes.clear
+        # If there were any children processes we couldn't wait for, log it
+        @sandboxes.keys.each do |cpid|
+          log(:warn, "Could not wait for child #{cpid}")
         end
+
+        @sandboxes.clear
       end
 
     private