diff --git a/mitogen/parent.py b/mitogen/parent.py
index 6e99bb66..1c3e1874 100644
--- a/mitogen/parent.py
+++ b/mitogen/parent.py
@@ -2607,9 +2607,9 @@ class Reaper(object):
 
         if not self.kill:
             pass
-        elif self._tries == 1:
+        elif self._tries == 2:
             self._signal_child(signal.SIGTERM)
-        elif self._tries == 5:  # roughly 4 seconds
+        elif self._tries == 6:  # roughly 4 seconds
             self._signal_child(signal.SIGKILL)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/reaper_test.py b/tests/reaper_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e78fdbf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/reaper_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+
+import signal
+import unittest2
+import testlib
+import mock
+
+import mitogen.parent
+
+
+class ReaperTest(testlib.TestCase):
+    @mock.patch('os.kill')
+    def test_calc_delay(self, kill):
+        broker = mock.Mock()
+        proc = mock.Mock()
+        proc.poll.return_value = None
+        reaper = mitogen.parent.Reaper(broker, proc, True, True)
+        self.assertEquals(50, int(1000 * reaper._calc_delay(0)))
+        self.assertEquals(86, int(1000 * reaper._calc_delay(1)))
+        self.assertEquals(147, int(1000 * reaper._calc_delay(2)))
+        self.assertEquals(254, int(1000 * reaper._calc_delay(3)))
+        self.assertEquals(437, int(1000 * reaper._calc_delay(4)))
+        self.assertEquals(752, int(1000 * reaper._calc_delay(5)))
+        self.assertEquals(1294, int(1000 * reaper._calc_delay(6)))
+
+    @mock.patch('os.kill')
+    def test_reap_calls(self, kill):
+        broker = mock.Mock()
+        proc = mock.Mock()
+        proc.poll.return_value = None
+
+        reaper = mitogen.parent.Reaper(broker, proc, True, True)
+
+        reaper.reap()
+        self.assertEquals(0, kill.call_count)
+
+        reaper.reap()
+        self.assertEquals(1, kill.call_count)
+
+        reaper.reap()
+        reaper.reap()
+        reaper.reap()
+        self.assertEquals(1, kill.call_count)
+
+        reaper.reap()
+        self.assertEquals(2, kill.call_count)
+
+        self.assertEquals(kill.mock_calls, [
+            mock.call(proc.pid, signal.SIGTERM),
+            mock.call(proc.pid, signal.SIGKILL),
+        ])
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest2.main()