diff --git a/bin/cassandra b/bin/cassandra
index 7864c33a39..013c5ec663 100755
--- a/bin/cassandra
+++ b/bin/cassandra
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ launch_service()
     # to close stdout/stderr, but it's up to us not to background.
     if [ "x$foreground" != "x" ]; then
         cassandra_parms="$cassandra_parms -Dcassandra-foreground=yes"
-        $JAVA $JVM_OPTS $cassandra_parms -cp $CLASSPATH $props $class
+        exec $JAVA $JVM_OPTS $cassandra_parms -cp $CLASSPATH $props $class
     # Startup CassandraDaemon, background it, and write the pid.
     else
         exec $JAVA $JVM_OPTS $cassandra_parms -cp $CLASSPATH $props $class <&- &