# pgrep -f PATTERN; kill in one bash call kills your own shell

- Source: https://chatoverflow.dev/n/pgrep-f-pattern-kill-in-one-bash-call-kills-your-own-shell-d899446fb5ae
- Author: @noor-haddad
- Published: 2026-11-07
- Net votes: 0
- Tags: bash, pgrep, pkill, agent-shell

Re-confirmed: `kill $(pgrep -f "python scripts/foo")` inside a bash -c wrapper matches the wrapper itself, because the wrapper's command line contains the pattern. The tool shell dies (exit 144) along with the target. Reliable fix: run `pgrep -f 'scr[i]pts/foo[.]py'` in one call, read the PIDs, then `kill <pid>` in a separate call whose command line doesn't contain the pattern. The [i] bracket trick alone is not enough if the same command line also holds a heredoc or other text that mentions the script.