diff --git a/tmt/checks/watchdog.py b/tmt/checks/watchdog.py
index 36b2968796..d849c91a4c 100644
--- a/tmt/checks/watchdog.py
+++ b/tmt/checks/watchdog.py
@@ -94,6 +94,12 @@ class WatchdogCheck(Check):
     ssh_ping: bool = field(default=False)
     ssh_ping_threshold: int = field(default=10)
 
+    def notify(self, invocation: 'TestInvocation') -> None:
+        """ Notify invocation that hard reboot is required """
+
+        invocation.hard_reboot_requested = True
+        invocation.terminate_process()
+
     def do_ping(
             self,
             invocation: 'TestInvocation',
@@ -183,7 +189,7 @@ def _handle_output(ping_output: str) -> None:
             if guest_context.ping_failures >= self.ping_threshold:
                 logger.fail(f'exhausted {self.ping_threshold} ping attempts')
 
-                invocation.hard_reboot_requested = True
+                self.notify(invocation)
 
         try:
             assert invocation.guest.guest is not None  # narrow type
@@ -290,7 +296,7 @@ def _success(ncat_output: str) -> None:
         if guest_context.ping_failures >= self.ping_threshold:
             logger.fail(f'exhausted {self.ping_threshold} ping attempts')
 
-            invocation.hard_reboot_requested = True
+            self.notify(invocation)
 
 
 @provides_check('watchdog')
diff --git a/tmt/steps/execute/__init__.py b/tmt/steps/execute/__init__.py
index b51e79558b..8b0965db5e 100644
--- a/tmt/steps/execute/__init__.py
+++ b/tmt/steps/execute/__init__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 import datetime
 import json
 import os
+import signal as _signal
 import subprocess
+import threading
 from contextlib import suppress
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Optional, TypeVar, cast
@@ -157,6 +159,7 @@ class TestInvocation:
     #: implementation and the test, it may be, for example, a shell process,
     #: SSH process, or a ``podman`` process.
     process: Optional[subprocess.Popen[bytes]] = None
+    process_lock: threading.Lock = field(default_factory=threading.Lock)
 
     check_data: dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
 
@@ -202,6 +205,7 @@ def reboot_request_path(self) -> Path:
 
     @property
     def soft_reboot_requested(self) -> bool:
+        """ If set, test requested a reboot """
         return self.reboot_request_path.exists()
 
     #: If set, an asynchronous observer requested a reboot while the test was
@@ -210,7 +214,7 @@ def soft_reboot_requested(self) -> bool:
 
     @property
     def reboot_requested(self) -> bool:
-        """ Whether a guest reboot has been requested by the test """
+        """ Whether a guest reboot has been requested while the test was running """
         return self.soft_reboot_requested or self.hard_reboot_requested
 
     def handle_reboot(self) -> bool:
@@ -285,6 +289,38 @@ def handle_reboot(self) -> bool:
 
         return True
 
+    def terminate_process(
+            self,
+            signal: _signal.Signals = _signal.SIGTERM,
+            logger: Optional[tmt.log.Logger] = None) -> None:
+        """
+        Terminate the invocation process.
+
+        .. warning::
+
+            This method should be used carefully. Process managing the
+            invocation has been started by by some part of tmt code which is
+            responsible for its well-being. Unless you have a really good reason
+            to do so, doing things behind the tmt's back may lead to unexpected
+            results.
+
+        :param signal: signal to send to the invocation process.
+        :param logger: logger to use for logging.
+        """
+
+        logger = logger or self.logger
+
+        with self.process_lock:
+            if self.process is None:
+                logger.debug('Test invocation process cannot be terminated because it is unset.',
+                             level=3)
+
+                return
+
+            logger.debug(f'Terminating process with {signal.name}.', level=3)
+
+            self.process.send_signal(signal)
+
 
 class ExecutePlugin(tmt.steps.Plugin[ExecuteStepDataT]):
     """ Common parent of execute plugins """
diff --git a/tmt/steps/execute/internal.py b/tmt/steps/execute/internal.py
index 236c375a73..a29a60132c 100644
--- a/tmt/steps/execute/internal.py
+++ b/tmt/steps/execute/internal.py
@@ -325,7 +325,8 @@ def _save_process(
                 command: Command,
                 process: subprocess.Popen[bytes],
                 logger: tmt.log.Logger) -> None:
-            invocation.process = process
+            with invocation.process_lock:
+                invocation.process = process
 
         # TODO: do we want timestamps? Yes, we do, leaving that for refactoring later,
         # to use some reusable decorator.
@@ -363,7 +364,9 @@ def _save_process(
                 elif tmt.utils.ProcessExitCodes.is_pidfile(invocation.return_code):
                     logger.warn('Test failed to manage its pidfile.')
 
-        invocation.process = None
+        with invocation.process_lock:
+            invocation.process = None
+
         invocation.end_time = self.format_timestamp(timer.end_time)
         invocation.real_duration = self.format_duration(timer.duration)