diff --git a/sowm.c b/sowm.c
index d1b4c2a..49d8af2 100644
--- a/sowm.c
+++ b/sowm.c
@@ -165,7 +165,17 @@ void win_del(Window w) {
 }
 
 void win_kill() {
-    if (cur) XKillClient(d, cur->w);
+    if (!cur) return;
+
+    XEvent ev = { .type = ClientMessage };
+
+    ev.xclient.window       = cur->w;
+    ev.xclient.format       = 32;
+    ev.xclient.message_type = XInternAtom(d, "WM_PROTOCOLS", True);
+    ev.xclient.data.l[0]    = XInternAtom(d, "WM_DELETE_WINDOW", True);
+    ev.xclient.data.l[1]    = CurrentTime;
+
+    XSendEvent(d, cur->w, False, NoEventMask, &ev);
 }
 
 void win_center() {