diff --git a/ffmpeg.c b/ffmpeg.c
index 1cf4487592..fae5f0f08c 100644
--- a/ffmpeg.c
+++ b/ffmpeg.c
@@ -321,8 +321,11 @@ sigterm_handler(int sig)
     received_sigterm = sig;
     received_nb_signals++;
     term_exit_sigsafe();
-    if(received_nb_signals > 3)
+    if(received_nb_signals > 3) {
+        write(STDERR_FILENO, "Received > 3 system signals, hard exiting\n",
+                      strlen("Received > 3 system signals, hard exiting\n"));
         exit(123);
+    }
 }
 
 void term_init(void)