diff --git a/src/emqx_connection.erl b/src/emqx_connection.erl
index 88a1ba4d7..28ea67bf8 100644
--- a/src/emqx_connection.erl
+++ b/src/emqx_connection.erl
@@ -684,9 +684,11 @@ check_oom(State = #state{channel = Channel}) ->
     Zone = emqx_channel:info(zone, Channel),
     OomPolicy = emqx_zone:oom_policy(Zone),
     case ?ENABLED(OomPolicy) andalso emqx_misc:check_oom(OomPolicy) of
-        Shutdown = {shutdown, _Reason} ->
-            erlang:send(self(), Shutdown);
-        _Other -> ok
+        {shutdown, Reason} ->
+            %% triggers terminate/2 callback immediately
+            erlang:exit({shutdown, Reason});
+        _Other ->
+            ok
     end,
     State.