diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/oozie/action/ssh/SshActionExecutor.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/oozie/action/ssh/SshActionExecutor.java
index 4e418cb661..4b85c3a6e1 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/oozie/action/ssh/SshActionExecutor.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/oozie/action/ssh/SshActionExecutor.java
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ private String getActionErrorMessage(Context context, WorkflowAction action) thr
     @Override
     public void kill(Context context, WorkflowAction action) throws ActionExecutorException {
         LOG.info("Killing action");
-        String command = "ssh " + action.getTrackerUri() + " kill  -KILL " + action.getExternalId();
+        String command = "ssh " + action.getTrackerUri() + " kill --  -$(ps -o pgid= " + action.getExternalId() + " | grep -o [0-9]*)";
         int returnValue = getReturnValue(command);
         if (returnValue != 0) {
             throw new ActionExecutorException(ActionExecutorException.ErrorType.ERROR, "FAILED_TO_KILL", XLog.format(