diff --git a/libs/libc/stdlib/lib_exit.c b/libs/libc/stdlib/lib_exit.c
index 7d82ffdc21a..b9fa15b8610 100644
--- a/libs/libc/stdlib/lib_exit.c
+++ b/libs/libc/stdlib/lib_exit.c
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
+#ifndef __KERNEL__
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Private Data
  ****************************************************************************/
@@ -148,3 +150,5 @@ void _Exit(int status)
 {
   _exit(status);
 }
+
+#endif /* __KERNEL__ */
diff --git a/sched/pthread/pthread_exit.c b/sched/pthread/pthread_exit.c
index dd3b072c0c2..2290cabcfe5 100644
--- a/sched/pthread/pthread_exit.c
+++ b/sched/pthread/pthread_exit.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void nx_pthread_exit(FAR void *exit_value)
        * not really a pthread.  Exit by calling exit().
        */
 
-      exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+      _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
   /* Perform common task termination logic.  This will get called again later
diff --git a/sched/signal/sig_default.c b/sched/signal/sig_default.c
index 904f8161aac..ec62b912f3e 100644
--- a/sched/signal/sig_default.c
+++ b/sched/signal/sig_default.c
@@ -224,9 +224,9 @@ static void nxsig_abnormal_termination(int signo)
     {
       UNUSED(rtcb);
 
-      /* Exit to terminate the task (note that exit() vs. _exit() is used. */
+      /* Exit to terminate the task. */
 
-      exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+      _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/sched/task/task_cancelpt.c b/sched/task/task_cancelpt.c
index 2a1ab912f8b..815d356cc68 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_cancelpt.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_cancelpt.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ bool enter_cancellation_point(void)
               else
 #endif
                 {
-                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                  _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ void leave_cancellation_point(void)
               else
 #endif
                 {
-                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                  _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/sched/task/task_delete.c b/sched/task/task_delete.c
index 2d4f314c739..6c2330e5ddd 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_delete.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_delete.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ int nxtask_delete(pid_t pid)
        * don't bother to unlock the TCB since it will be going away.
        */
 
-      exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+      _exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
     }
 
   /* Notify the target if the non-cancelable or deferred cancellation set */
diff --git a/sched/task/task_execve.c b/sched/task/task_execve.c
index 555271effef..0ab84e0464d 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_execve.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_execve.c
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ int execve(FAR const char *path, FAR char * const argv[],
 
   /* Then exit */
 
-  exit(0);
+  _exit(0);
 
   /* We should not get here, but might be needed by some compilers.  Other,
    * smarter compilers might complain that this code is unreachable.  You
diff --git a/sched/task/task_setcancelstate.c b/sched/task/task_setcancelstate.c
index bb08b542c37..2d384eac14d 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_setcancelstate.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_setcancelstate.c
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ int task_setcancelstate(int state, FAR int *oldstate)
               else
 #endif
                 {
-                  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+                  _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/sched/task/task_setcanceltype.c b/sched/task/task_setcanceltype.c
index b14fec53e0d..cf4f7bcd389 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_setcanceltype.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_setcanceltype.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ int task_setcanceltype(int type, FAR int *oldtype)
           else
 #endif
             {
-              exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+              _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
         }
 #endif
diff --git a/sched/task/task_start.c b/sched/task/task_start.c
index 745531ab9bf..42ac5f0b277 100644
--- a/sched/task/task_start.c
+++ b/sched/task/task_start.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void nxtask_start(void)
 
       if (++argc > MAX_START_ARGS)
         {
-          exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+          _exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
     }
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ void nxtask_start(void)
 #endif
     }
 
-  /* Call exit() if/when the task returns */
+  /* Call _exit() if/when the task returns */
 
-  exit(exitcode);
+  _exit(exitcode);
 }