diff --git a/run-command.c b/run-command.c
index 13fa452e8..3add1d66a 100644
--- a/run-command.c
+++ b/run-command.c
@@ -633,6 +633,11 @@ int in_async(void)
 	return !pthread_equal(main_thread, pthread_self());
 }
 
+void NORETURN async_exit(int code)
+{
+	pthread_exit((void *)(intptr_t)code);
+}
+
 #else
 
 static struct {
@@ -678,6 +683,11 @@ int in_async(void)
 	return process_is_async;
 }
 
+void NORETURN async_exit(int code)
+{
+	exit(code);
+}
+
 #endif
 
 int start_async(struct async *async)
diff --git a/run-command.h b/run-command.h
index 12bb26c2a..c0969c769 100644
--- a/run-command.h
+++ b/run-command.h
@@ -121,5 +121,6 @@ struct async {
 int start_async(struct async *async);
 int finish_async(struct async *async);
 int in_async(void);
+void NORETURN async_exit(int code);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/write_or_die.c b/write_or_die.c
index e7afe7a29..49e80aa22 100644
--- a/write_or_die.c
+++ b/write_or_die.c
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 #include "cache.h"
+#include "run-command.h"
 
 static void check_pipe(int err)
 {
 	if (err == EPIPE) {
+		if (in_async())
+			async_exit(141);
+
 		signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_DFL);
 		raise(SIGPIPE);
 		/* Should never happen, but just in case... */