diff --git a/.pending/bugfixes/tendermint/_4879-Don-t-terminat b/.pending/bugfixes/tendermint/_4879-Don-t-terminat
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6c92b1f2eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.pending/bugfixes/tendermint/_4879-Don-t-terminat
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#4879 Don't terminate the process immediately after startup when run in standalone mode.
diff --git a/server/start.go b/server/start.go
index e0df4baaff..a1e630d818 100644
--- a/server/start.go
+++ b/server/start.go
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ func startStandAlone(ctx *Context, appCreator AppCreator) error {
 		cmn.Exit(err.Error())
 	}
 
-	// wait forever
 	cmn.TrapSignal(ctx.Logger, func() {
 		// cleanup
 		err = svr.Stop()
@@ -97,6 +96,10 @@ func startStandAlone(ctx *Context, appCreator AppCreator) error {
 			cmn.Exit(err.Error())
 		}
 	})
+
+	// run forever (the node will not be returned)
+	select {}
+
 	return nil
 }