diff --git a/util/mapcache_seed.c b/util/mapcache_seed.c
index 08b46ddd..7778e15d 100644
--- a/util/mapcache_seed.c
+++ b/util/mapcache_seed.c
@@ -485,7 +485,23 @@ void cmd_recurse(mapcache_context *cmd_ctx, mapcache_tile *tile)
   if(sig_int_received || error_detected) { //stop if we were asked to stop by hitting ctrl-c
     //remove all items from the queue
     struct seed_cmd entry;
-    while (trypop_queue(&entry)!=APR_EAGAIN) /*do nothing*/;
+    int retry_count = 0;
+    int ret = trypop_queue(&entry);
+    while (ret != APR_EAGAIN) {
+      // try to empty queue with a graceful retreat up to 55 seconds
+      // for retries before forcefully terminating threads
+      if (ret == APR_EOF)
+        break;
+      if (ret != APR_SUCCESS)
+        retry_count++;
+      if (retry_count > 10) {
+        printf("Feed worker threads failed to terminate. Stopping forcefully.\n");
+        apr_queue_interrupt_all(work_queue);
+        break;
+      }
+      apr_sleep(retry_count * 1000000);
+      ret = trypop_queue(&entry);
+    }
     return;
   }
 
@@ -614,7 +630,23 @@ void feed_worker()
       if(sig_int_received || error_detected) { //stop if we were asked to stop by hitting ctrl-c
         //remove all items from the queue
         struct seed_cmd entry;
-        while (trypop_queue(&entry)!=APR_EAGAIN) /* do nothing */;
+        int retry_count = 0;
+        int ret = trypop_queue(&entry);
+        while (ret != APR_EAGAIN) {
+          // try to empty queue with a graceful retreat up to 55 seconds
+          // for retries before forcefully terminating threads
+          if (ret == APR_EOF)
+            break;
+          if (ret != APR_SUCCESS)
+            retry_count++;
+          if (retry_count > 10) {
+            printf("Feed worker threads failed to terminate. Stopping forcefully.\n");
+            apr_queue_interrupt_all(work_queue);
+            break;
+          }
+          apr_sleep(retry_count * 1000000);
+          ret = trypop_queue(&entry);
+        }
         break;
       }
       if(iteration_mode == MAPCACHE_ITERATION_LOG) {