diff --git a/distribution/src/main/packaging/systemd/elasticsearch.service b/distribution/src/main/packaging/systemd/elasticsearch.service
index 4545706938512..623b41d7845b5 100644
--- a/distribution/src/main/packaging/systemd/elasticsearch.service
+++ b/distribution/src/main/packaging/systemd/elasticsearch.service
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ TimeoutStopSec=0
 # SIGTERM signal is used to stop the Java process
 KillSignal=SIGTERM
 
+# Send the signal only to the JVM rather than its control group
+KillMode=process
+
 # Java process is never killed
 SendSIGKILL=no