gistfile1.py

#!/usr/bin/python

import signal, sys, threading, time

THREADS = []

def handler(signal, frame):
    global THREADS
    print "Ctrl-C.... Exiting"
    for t in THREADS:
        t.alive = False
    sys.exit(0)

class thread(threading.Thread):
    def __init__(self):
        self.alive = True
        threading.Thread.__init__(self)


    def run(self):
        while self.alive:
            # do something
            pass

def main():
    global THREADS
    t = thread()
    t.start()
    THREADS.append(t)
    for t in THREADS:
        while True:
            t.join(100000)
            if not t.isAlive:
                break
    # while True:
        # time.sleep(1)
    print 'exiting'

if __name__ == '__main__':
    signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, handler)
    main()

if the thread you are setting to alive to False has a child thread which is set Daemon to False will this strategy to exit by CTRL+C work ?