diff --git a/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake b/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake
index cd364c4e..11b391fe 100755
--- a/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake
+++ b/bin/omarchy-update-stay-awake
@@ -468,8 +468,9 @@ start_locked() {
   trap cleanup_pending_launch EXIT
   atomic_write_state "$launch_control_file" "active $token" || return 1
 
-  # The child is identifiable before it publishes state, including before exec.
-  # exec -a retains that identity without keeping an extra shell alive.
+  # The child is identifiable by the token in its arguments from the moment it
+  # starts. It stays a shell so stop's TERM ends it with a clean exit, since
+  # systemd-inhibit reports a child killed by a signal as an error.
   local hold_command=(
     /usr/bin/systemd-inhibit --what=sleep:idle --who=omarchy-update
     --why="Omarchy update in progress [$token]" --mode=block
@@ -481,7 +482,6 @@ start_locked() {
       token=$2
       owner=$3
       control=$4
-      expected="--why=Omarchy update in progress [$token]"
       temporary=""
       cleanup() { [[ -z $temporary ]] || /usr/bin/rm -f -- "$temporary"; }
       trap cleanup EXIT
@@ -500,7 +500,9 @@ start_locked() {
       /usr/bin/flock -u "$control_fd"
       exec {control_fd}>&-
       trap - EXIT
-      exec -a "$expected" /usr/bin/sleep infinity
+      trap "kill \$!; exit 0" TERM
+      /usr/bin/sleep infinity &
+      wait
     ' "--why=Omarchy update in progress [$token]" "$state_dir" "$token" "$caller_uid" "$launch_control_file"
   )
 
diff --git a/test/shell.d/update-stay-awake-security-test.sh b/test/shell.d/update-stay-awake-security-test.sh
index 6d473f30..2831a504 100644
--- a/test/shell.d/update-stay-awake-security-test.sh
+++ b/test/shell.d/update-stay-awake-security-test.sh
@@ -446,8 +446,8 @@ pause = ': >"$TEST_CANCEL_READY"; while :; do /usr/bin/sleep 0.02; done'
 if sys.argv[2] == 'published':
     anchor = '  while :; do\n    inhibit_record='
     edits = [(anchor, '  ' + pause + '\n' + anchor),
-             ('      exec -a "$expected"',
-              '      while [[ ! -e $TEST_RELEASE_CHILD ]]; do /usr/bin/sleep 0.02; done\n      exec -a "$expected"')]
+             ('      trap "kill \\$!; exit 0" TERM',
+              '      while [[ ! -e $TEST_RELEASE_CHILD ]]; do /usr/bin/sleep 0.02; done\n      trap "kill \\$!; exit 0" TERM')]
 elif sys.argv[2] == 'idle-temporary':
     anchor = '  temporary=$(mktemp "$state_dir/.${state_file##*/}.XXXXXXXX") || return 1'
     edits = [(anchor, anchor + '\n  if [[ $state_file == "$idle_owner_file" ]]; then ' + pause + '; fi')]