diff --git a/tests/support/server.tcl b/tests/support/server.tcl
index 984270adb..b1ab38fc1 100644
--- a/tests/support/server.tcl
+++ b/tests/support/server.tcl
@@ -46,11 +46,16 @@ proc kill_server config {
     }
 
     # kill server and wait for the process to be totally exited
+    catch {exec kill $pid}
     while {[is_alive $config]} {
-        if {[incr wait 10] % 1000 == 0} {
+        incr wait 10
+
+        if {$wait >= 5000} {
+            puts "Forcing process $pid to exit..."
+            catch {exec kill -KILL $pid}
+        } elseif {$wait % 1000 == 0} {
             puts "Waiting for process $pid to exit..."
         }
-        catch {exec kill $pid}
         after 10
     }