diff --git a/cowterm.c b/cowterm.c
index 277d624..2aaca80 100644
--- a/cowterm.c
+++ b/cowterm.c
@@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ static void key_press_cb(XKeyEvent *event, void *data) {
       return;
     }
     if ((keysym & 0x1f) == ('C' & 0x1f)) {
-      kill(child_pid, SIGINT);
+      write(*master, "\x03", 1);
       return;
     }
     if ((keysym & 0x1f) == ('U' & 0x1f)) {