from https://github.com/systemd/systemd/blob/main/src/shutdown/shutdown.c
it looks like systemd does indeed try to term then kill all processes
log_info("Sending SIGTERM to remaining processes...");
broadcast_signal(SIGTERM, true, true, arg_timeout);
log_info("Sending SIGKILL to remaining processes...");
broadcast_signal(SIGKILL, true, false, arg_timeout);
do you see those entries in your logs?
On Fri, Mar 20, 2026 at 8:33 AM alain williams <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I find that when I do a reboot or poweroff (from command line) running
> processes are not being sent SIGTERM. The one that really annoys me is a text
> editor not receiving it and thus me losing work.
>
> The systemd documentation says that it should be sent; good old init used to
> do
> this.
>
> Is the documentation wrong or do I need to tweak some config somewhere ?
>
> I am running Debian 13 with the mate desktop. MATE Terminal provides the
> terminal emulation. The editor is my own version of microemacs (which does
> handle SIGTERM correctly).
>
> The GUI (mate, etc) is actually irrelevant - the same thing happens to the
> editor being run on a console.
>
> TIA
>
> --
> Alain Williams
> Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT
> Lecturer.
> +44 (0) 787 668 0256 https://www.phcomp.co.uk/
> Parliament Hill Computers. Registration Information:
> https://www.phcomp.co.uk/Contact.html
> #include <std_disclaimer.h>
>
