diff --git a/cmd/helper.go b/cmd/helper.go
index a6b736459..863475ab8 100644
--- a/cmd/helper.go
+++ b/cmd/helper.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/cmd/shutdown"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util"
@@ -62,29 +61,29 @@ func redact(src string) string {
 		ReplaceAllString(src, "$1: *****")
 }
 
-func publishErrorInfo(cfgFile string, err error) {
+func publishErrorInfo(valueChan chan<- util.Param, cfgFile string, err error) {
 	if cfgFile != "" {
 		file, pathErr := filepath.Abs(cfgFile)
 		if pathErr != nil {
 			file = cfgFile
 		}
-		publish("file", file)
+		valueChan <- util.Param{Key: "file", Val: file}
 
 		if src, fileErr := os.ReadFile(cfgFile); fileErr != nil {
 			log.ERROR.Println("could not open config file:", fileErr)
 		} else {
-			publish("config", redact(string(src)))
+			valueChan <- util.Param{Key: "config", Val: redact(string(src))}
 
 			// find line number
 			if match := regexp.MustCompile(`yaml: line (\d+):`).FindStringSubmatch(err.Error()); len(match) == 2 {
 				if line, err := strconv.Atoi(match[1]); err == nil {
-					publish("line", line)
+					valueChan <- util.Param{Key: "line", Val: line}
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	publish("fatal", unwrap(err))
+	valueChan <- util.Param{Key: "fatal", Val: unwrap(err)}
 }
 
 // fatal logs a fatal error and runs shutdown functions before terminating
@@ -100,19 +99,3 @@ func shutdownDoneC() <-chan struct{} {
 	go shutdown.Cleanup(doneC)
 	return doneC
 }
-
-// exitWhenDone waits for shutdown to complete with timeout
-func exitWhenDone(timeout time.Duration) {
-	select {
-	case <-shutdownDoneC(): // wait for shutdown
-	case <-time.After(timeout):
-	}
-
-	os.Exit(1)
-}
-
-// exitWhenStopped waits for stop and performs shutdown
-func exitWhenStopped(stopC <-chan struct{}, timeout time.Duration) {
-	<-stopC
-	exitWhenDone(timeout)
-}
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index bcacfe0ea..56e7763d4 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
+const rebootDelay = 5 * time.Minute // delayed reboot on error
+
 var (
 	log     = util.NewLogger("main")
 	cfgFile string
@@ -95,12 +97,6 @@ func Execute() {
 	}
 }
 
-var valueChan chan util.Param
-
-func publish(key string, val any) {
-	valueChan <- util.Param{Key: key, Val: val}
-}
-
 func runRoot(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	// load config and re-configure logging after reading config file
 	var err error
@@ -143,7 +139,7 @@ func runRoot(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	go socketHub.Run(tee.Attach(), cache)
 
 	// setup values channel
-	valueChan = make(chan util.Param)
+	valueChan := make(chan util.Param)
 	go tee.Run(valueChan)
 
 	// setup environment
@@ -214,7 +210,7 @@ func runRoot(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 
 		// expose sponsor to UI
 		if sponsor.Subject != "" {
-			publish("sponsor", sponsor.Subject)
+			valueChan <- util.Param{Key: "sponsor", Val: sponsor.Subject}
 		}
 
 		// allow web access for vehicles
@@ -231,23 +227,35 @@ func runRoot(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 			})
 		})
 
-		// delayed reboot on error
-		const rebootDelay = 5 * time.Minute
-
 		log.FATAL.Println(err)
 		log.FATAL.Printf("will attempt restart in: %v", rebootDelay)
 
-		publishErrorInfo(cfgFile, err)
-
-		// wait for shutdown
-		go exitWhenStopped(stopC, rebootDelay)
+		publishErrorInfo(valueChan, cfgFile, err)
 	}
 
 	// uds health check listener
 	go server.HealthListener(site)
 
 	// wait for shutdown
-	go exitWhenStopped(stopC, conf.Interval)
+	go func() {
+		<-stopC
+
+		timeout := conf.Interval
+		if err != nil {
+			timeout = rebootDelay
+		}
+
+		select {
+		case <-shutdownDoneC(): // wait for shutdown
+		case <-time.After(timeout):
+		}
+
+		if err != nil {
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}()
 
 	log.FATAL.Println(httpd.ListenAndServe())
 }