diff --git a/tools/server/server-models.cpp b/tools/server/server-models.cpp
index db6cbce8f9d8..6ead608a4ffb 100644
--- a/tools/server/server-models.cpp
+++ b/tools/server/server-models.cpp
@@ -626,56 +626,71 @@ void server_models::load(const std::string & name) {
             }
         });
 
+        std::atomic<bool> child_finished(false);
+
         std::thread stopping_thread([&]() {
-            // thread to monitor stopping signal OR child crash
+            // thread to monitor explicit stop requests; child exit is signalled via child_finished
             auto is_stopping = [this, &name]() {
                 return this->stopping_models.find(name) != this->stopping_models.end();
             };
-            auto should_wake = [&]() {
-                return is_stopping() || !subprocess_alive(child_proc.get());
-            };
+
             {
                 std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(this->mutex);
-                this->cv_stop.wait(lk, should_wake);
+                this->cv_stop.wait(lk, [&]() {
+                    return is_stopping() || child_finished.load(std::memory_order_acquire);
+                });
+                if (!is_stopping() || child_finished.load(std::memory_order_acquire)) {
+                    return;
+                }
             }
-            // child may have already exited (e.g. crashed) — skip shutdown sequence
-            if (!subprocess_alive(child_proc.get())) {
+
+            // child may have already exited between wake-up and shutdown handling
+            if (subprocess_alive(child_proc.get()) <= 0) {
                 return;
             }
+
             SRV_INF("stopping model instance name=%s\n", name.c_str());
-            // send interrupt to child process
             fprintf(stdin_file, "%s\n", CMD_ROUTER_TO_CHILD_EXIT);
             fflush(stdin_file);
-            // wait to stop gracefully or timeout
+
             int64_t start_time = ggml_time_ms();
             while (true) {
+                if (subprocess_alive(child_proc.get()) <= 0) {
+                    return;
+                }
+
                 std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(this->mutex);
-                if (!is_stopping()) {
-                    return; // already stopped
+                if (!is_stopping() || child_finished.load(std::memory_order_acquire)) {
+                    return;
                 }
+
                 int64_t elapsed = ggml_time_ms() - start_time;
                 if (elapsed >= stop_timeout * 1000) {
-                    // timeout, force kill
+                    lk.unlock();
                     SRV_WRN("force-killing model instance name=%s after %d seconds timeout\n", name.c_str(), stop_timeout);
                     subprocess_terminate(child_proc.get());
                     return;
                 }
-                this->cv_stop.wait_for(lk, std::chrono::seconds(1));
+
+                this->cv_stop.wait_for(lk, std::chrono::seconds(1), [&]() {
+                    return !is_stopping() || child_finished.load(std::memory_order_acquire);
+                });
             }
         });
 
-        // we reach here when the child process exits
+
         // note: we cannot join() prior to this point because it will close stdin_file
         if (log_thread.joinable()) {
             log_thread.join();
         }
 
-        // stop the timeout monitoring thread
+        child_finished.store(true, std::memory_order_release);
         {
             std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(this->mutex);
             stopping_models.erase(name);
             cv_stop.notify_all();
         }
+
         if (stopping_thread.joinable()) {
             stopping_thread.join();
         }
diff --git a/vendor/sheredom/subprocess.h b/vendor/sheredom/subprocess.h
index 3e40bae046a2..f6f93dfec760 100644
--- a/vendor/sheredom/subprocess.h
+++ b/vendor/sheredom/subprocess.h
@@ -1051,6 +1051,11 @@ int subprocess_terminate(struct subprocess_s *const process) {
   return success_terminate;
 #else
   int result;
+
+  if (process->child <= 0) {
+    return -1;
+  }
+
   result = kill(process->child, 9);
   return result;
 #endif