diff --git a/include/player.h b/include/player.h
index bb10d269..c5156e58 100644
--- a/include/player.h
+++ b/include/player.h
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ struct player {
 #define PS_LOGIN	1
 #define PS_PLAYING	2
 #define PS_SHUTDOWN	3
-#define PS_KILL		4
 
 /* player flags */
 enum {
diff --git a/src/lib/player/login.c b/src/lib/player/login.c
index 9297cec4..bf30d7c6 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/login.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/login.c
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ player_login(void *ud)
 
     pr_id(player, C_INIT, "Empire server ready\n");
 
-    while (!io_eof(player->iop) && !io_error(player->iop)) {
+    while (!io_eof(player->iop) && !io_error(player->iop)
+	   && player->state != PS_SHUTDOWN) {
 	io_output(player->iop, IO_WAIT);
 	if (io_gets(player->iop, buf, sizeof(buf)) < 0) {
 	    io_input(player->iop, IO_WAIT);
@@ -107,8 +108,6 @@ player_login(void *ud)
 	default:
 	    break;
 	}
-	if (player->state >= PS_SHUTDOWN)
-	    break;
     }
     player->state = PS_SHUTDOWN;
     if (!io_eof(player->iop)) {
diff --git a/src/server/idle.c b/src/server/idle.c
index d80ddc53..d291b265 100644
--- a/src/server/idle.c
+++ b/src/server/idle.c
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ player_kill_idle(void *unused)
 	/*continue; */
 	for (p = player_next(0); p != 0; p = player_next(p)) {
 	    if (p->state == PS_SHUTDOWN) {
-		/* no more mr. nice guy */
-		p->state = PS_KILL;
-		p->aborted++;
+		/* player thread hung */
+		/* FIXME but for how long?  unknown if shut down elsewhere! */
+		/* FIXME this can leave stale update_lock behind! */
 		empth_terminate(p->proc);
 		p = player_delete(p);
 		continue;