diff --git a/lib/utils/sbc-pinger.js b/lib/utils/sbc-pinger.js
index 3b4d6f17..ec6c453e 100644
--- a/lib/utils/sbc-pinger.js
+++ b/lib/utils/sbc-pinger.js
@@ -120,17 +120,8 @@ module.exports = (logger) => {
       }
       pingProxies(srf);
 
-      // if we have zero calls, we can complete the scale-in right
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        const calls = srf.locals.sessionTracker.count;
-        if (calls === 0) {
-          logger.info('scale-in can complete immediately as we have no calls in progress');
-          process.exit(0);
-        }
-        else {
-          logger.info(`${calls} calls in progress; scale-in will complete when they are done`);
-        }
-      }, 5000);
+      // Note: in response to SIGUSR1 we start drying up but do not exit when calls reach zero.
+      // This is to allow external scripts that sent the signal to manage the lifecycle.
     });
   }