diff --git a/tests/tcg/Makefile.target b/tests/tcg/Makefile.target
index 14bc013181..a3b0aaf8af 100644
--- a/tests/tcg/Makefile.target
+++ b/tests/tcg/Makefile.target
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@ cc-option = if $(call cc-test, $1); then \
 
 # $1 = test name, $2 = cmd, $3 = desc
 ifeq ($(filter %-softmmu, $(TARGET)),)
-run-test = $(call quiet-command, timeout --foreground $(TIMEOUT) $2 > $1.out, \
+run-test = $(call quiet-command, timeout -s KILL --foreground $(TIMEOUT) $2 > $1.out, \
 	TEST,$(or $3, $*, $<) on $(TARGET_NAME))
 else
-run-test = $(call quiet-command, timeout --foreground $(TIMEOUT) $2, \
+run-test = $(call quiet-command, timeout -s KILL --foreground $(TIMEOUT) $2, \
         TEST,$(or $3, $*, $<) on $(TARGET_NAME))
 endif