diff --git a/kuryr_kubernetes/tests/unit/test_watcher.py b/kuryr_kubernetes/tests/unit/test_watcher.py
index 7be9d7dd3..c643c3125 100644
--- a/kuryr_kubernetes/tests/unit/test_watcher.py
+++ b/kuryr_kubernetes/tests/unit/test_watcher.py
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ class TestWatcher(test_base.TestCase):
 
         watcher_obj._stop_watch(path)
 
-        m_th.kill.assert_called()
+        m_th.stop.assert_called()
 
     def test_stop_watch_idle(self):
         path = '/test'
diff --git a/kuryr_kubernetes/watcher.py b/kuryr_kubernetes/watcher.py
index b63957057..a461c912f 100644
--- a/kuryr_kubernetes/watcher.py
+++ b/kuryr_kubernetes/watcher.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class Watcher(object):
     def _stop_watch(self, path):
         if self._idle.get(path):
             if self._thread_group:
-                self._watching[path].kill()
+                self._watching[path].stop()
 
     def _watch(self, path):
         try: