diff --git a/pkg/cmd/server/server.go b/pkg/cmd/server/server.go
index a9b9ab658..16079f0d2 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/server/server.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/server/server.go
@@ -21,10 +21,13 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"os/signal"
 	"reflect"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/heptio/ark/pkg/buildinfo"
@@ -221,6 +224,9 @@ func newServer(namespace, baseName, pluginDir string, logger *logrus.Logger) (*s
 }
 
 func (s *server) run() error {
+	defer s.pluginManager.CleanupClients()
+	s.handleShutdownSignals()
+
 	if err := s.ensureArkNamespace(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -364,6 +370,17 @@ func (s *server) watchConfig(config *api.Config) {
 	})
 }
 
+func (s *server) handleShutdownSignals() {
+	sigs := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	signal.Notify(sigs, syscall.SIGINT, syscall.SIGTERM)
+
+	go func() {
+		sig := <-sigs
+		s.logger.Infof("Received signal %s, gracefully shutting down", sig)
+		s.cancelFunc()
+	}()
+}
+
 func (s *server) initBackupService(config *api.Config) error {
 	s.logger.Info("Configuring cloud provider for backup service")
 	objectStore, err := getObjectStore(config.BackupStorageProvider.CloudProviderConfig, s.pluginManager)
diff --git a/pkg/controller/backup_controller_test.go b/pkg/controller/backup_controller_test.go
index fbab58ce9..3956a8911 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/backup_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/backup_controller_test.go
@@ -415,3 +415,9 @@ func (_m *MockManager) GetObjectStore(name string) (cloudprovider.ObjectStore, e
 
 	return r0, r1
 }
+
+// CleanupClients provides a mock function
+func (_m *MockManager) CleanupClients() {
+	_ = _m.Called()
+	return
+}
diff --git a/pkg/plugin/manager.go b/pkg/plugin/manager.go
index 3136bb9ed..334579f35 100644
--- a/pkg/plugin/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/plugin/manager.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ func baseConfig() *plugin.ClientConfig {
 	return &plugin.ClientConfig{
 		HandshakeConfig:  Handshake,
 		AllowedProtocols: []plugin.Protocol{plugin.ProtocolGRPC},
+		Managed:          true,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -123,6 +124,9 @@ type Manager interface {
 	// CloseRestoreItemActions terminates the plugin sub-processes that
 	// are hosting RestoreItemAction plugins for the given restore name.
 	CloseRestoreItemActions(restoreName string) error
+
+	// CleanupClients kills all plugin subprocesses.
+	CleanupClients()
 }
 
 type manager struct {
@@ -411,3 +415,7 @@ func closeAll(store *clientStore, kind PluginKind, scope string) error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (m *manager) CleanupClients() {
+	plugin.CleanupClients()
+}