diff --git a/tests/sshserver.pl b/tests/sshserver.pl
index 2a69561892..cba8a88ef0 100755
--- a/tests/sshserver.pl
+++ b/tests/sshserver.pl
@@ -1175,7 +1175,8 @@ if ($sshdid =~ /OpenSSH-Windows/) {
 #***************************************************************************
 # Start the ssh server daemon without forking it
 #
-my $rc = system($cmd);
+# "exec" avoids the shell process sticking around
+my $rc = system("exec " . $cmd);
 if($rc == -1) {
     logmsg "\"$sshd\" failed with: $!\n";
 }