diff --git a/parsl/executors/radical/executor.py b/parsl/executors/radical/executor.py
index 93b4b38bbd..aa191f49e5 100644
--- a/parsl/executors/radical/executor.py
+++ b/parsl/executors/radical/executor.py
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ def __init__(self,
         self.resource = resource
         self._uid = RPEX.lower()
         self.bulk_mode = bulk_mode
+        self._terminate = mt.Event()
         self.working_dir = working_dir
         self.pilot_kwargs = rpex_pilot_kwargs
         self.future_tasks: Dict[str, Future] = {}
@@ -532,7 +533,7 @@ def _bulk_collector(self):
 
         bulk = list()
 
-        while True:
+        while not self._terminate.is_set():
 
             now = time.time()  # time of last submission
 
@@ -552,6 +553,9 @@ def _bulk_collector(self):
                 if len(bulk) >= self._max_bulk_size:
                     break
 
+                if self._terminate.is_set():
+                    break
+
             if bulk:
                 logger.debug('submit bulk: %d', len(bulk))
                 self.tmgr.submit_tasks(bulk)
@@ -588,6 +592,13 @@ def submit(self, func, resource_specification, *args, **kwargs):
     def shutdown(self, hub=True, targets='all', block=False):
         """Shutdown the executor, including all RADICAL-Pilot components."""
         logger.info("RadicalPilotExecutor is terminating...")
+
+        self._terminate.set()
+
+        # ensure we are in the bulk submssion mode
+        if self.bulk_mode:
+            self._bulk_thread.join()
+
         self.session.close(download=True)
         logger.info("RadicalPilotExecutor is terminated.")