diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/df.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/df.go
index 5f9385ed3..44364eac3 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/df.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/df.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"os"
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ var dfCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 
 		setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
-			dfRender(c.DF(context.TODO()))
+			dfRender(c.DF(globalCtx))
 		})
 	},
 }
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/dmesg.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/dmesg.go
index 19895f9c0..86306b7bc 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/dmesg.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/dmesg.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ var dmesgCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 
 		setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
-			msg, err := c.Dmesg(context.TODO())
+			msg, err := c.Dmesg(globalCtx)
 			if err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error getting dmesg: %s", err)
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/kubeconfig.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/kubeconfig.go
index df297a1f0..1f24065c3 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/kubeconfig.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/kubeconfig.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ var kubeconfigCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 
 		setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
-			kubeconfig, err := c.Kubeconfig(context.TODO())
+			kubeconfig, err := c.Kubeconfig(globalCtx)
 			if err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error fetching kubeconfig: %s", err)
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/logs.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/logs.go
index 0387dab75..502a4d294 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/logs.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/logs.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ var logsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 				namespace = constants.SystemContainerdNamespace
 			}
 
-			stream, err := c.Logs(context.TODO(), namespace, args[0])
+			stream, err := c.Logs(globalCtx, namespace, args[0])
 			if err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error fetching logs: %s", err)
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/ps.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/ps.go
index 5ddac068d..e34167125 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/ps.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/ps.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"text/tabwriter"
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ var psCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			} else {
 				namespace = constants.SystemContainerdNamespace
 			}
-			reply, err := c.Processes(context.TODO(), namespace)
+			reply, err := c.Processes(globalCtx, namespace)
 
 			if err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error getting process list: %s", err)
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/reboot.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/reboot.go
index 5939ce7a2..f936fa5e5 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/reboot.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/reboot.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ var rebootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 
 		setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
-			if err := c.Reboot(context.TODO()); err != nil {
+			if err := c.Reboot(globalCtx); err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error executing reboot: %s", err)
 			}
 		})
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/reset.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/reset.go
index a5759e025..0f3f53bd3 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/reset.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/reset.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ var resetCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 
 		setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
-			if err := c.Reset(context.TODO()); err != nil {
+			if err := c.Reset(globalCtx); err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error executing reset: %s", err)
 			}
 		})
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/restart.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/restart.go
index 77b1b5208..1f47c2275 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/restart.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/restart.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"os"
 
 	criconstants "github.com/containerd/cri/pkg/constants"
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ var restartCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			} else {
 				namespace = constants.SystemContainerdNamespace
 			}
-			if err := c.Restart(context.TODO(), namespace, args[0], timeout); err != nil {
+			if err := c.Restart(globalCtx, namespace, args[0], timeout); err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error restarting process: %s", err)
 			}
 		})
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/root.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/root.go
index d0b9c5dd2..5c94c74ab 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/root.go
@@ -5,9 +5,13 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"os/signal"
 	"os/user"
 	"path"
+	"syscall"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/talos-systems/talos/cmd/osctl/pkg/client"
@@ -38,9 +42,33 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Long:  ``,
 }
 
+// Global context to be used in the commands.
+//
+// Cobra doesn't have a way to pass it around, so we have to use global variable.
+// Context is initialized in Execute, and initial value is failsafe default.
+var globalCtx = context.Background()
+
 // Execute adds all child commands to the root command and sets flags appropriately.
 // This is called by main.main(). It only needs to happen once to the rootCmd.
 func Execute() {
+	var globalCtxCancel context.CancelFunc
+	globalCtx, globalCtxCancel = context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer globalCtxCancel()
+
+	// listen for ^C and SIGTERM and abort context
+	sigCh := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	signal.Notify(sigCh, os.Interrupt, syscall.SIGTERM)
+
+	go func() {
+		select {
+		case <-sigCh:
+			signal.Stop(sigCh)
+			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Signal received, aborting, press Ctrl+C once again to abort immediately...")
+			globalCtxCancel()
+		case <-globalCtx.Done():
+		}
+	}()
+
 	var (
 		defaultTalosConfig string
 		ok                 bool
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/routes.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/routes.go
index 15aa1bc41..636c703a7 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/routes.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/routes.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"text/tabwriter"
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@ var routesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 
 		setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
-			reply, err := c.Routes(context.TODO())
+			reply, err := c.Routes(globalCtx)
 			if err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error getting routes: %s", err)
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/service.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/service.go
index 8e8c8ea20..19a044132 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/service.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/service.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"text/tabwriter"
@@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ var serviceCmd = &cobra.Command{
 }
 
 func serviceList(c *client.Client) {
-	reply, err := c.ServiceList(context.TODO())
+	reply, err := c.ServiceList(globalCtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		helpers.Fatalf("error listing services: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -59,7 +58,7 @@ func serviceList(c *client.Client) {
 }
 
 func serviceInfo(c *client.Client, id string) {
-	s, err := c.ServiceInfo(context.TODO(), id)
+	s, err := c.ServiceInfo(globalCtx, id)
 	if err != nil {
 		helpers.Fatalf("error listing services: %s", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/shutdown.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/shutdown.go
index 2060bfbda..54022ef60 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/shutdown.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/shutdown.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ var shutdownCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 
 		setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
-			if err := c.Shutdown(context.TODO()); err != nil {
+			if err := c.Shutdown(globalCtx); err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error executing shutdown: %s", err)
 			}
 		})
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/stats.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/stats.go
index da9453d2f..04b0be64a 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/stats.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/stats.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"text/tabwriter"
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ var statsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			} else {
 				namespace = constants.SystemContainerdNamespace
 			}
-			reply, err := c.Stats(context.TODO(), namespace)
+			reply, err := c.Stats(globalCtx, namespace)
 			if err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error getting stats: %s", err)
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/top.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/top.go
index 429281daa..c95ab5cc7 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/top.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/top.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ var topCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 			if oneTime {
 				var output string
-				output, err = topOutput(context.TODO(), c)
+				output, err = topOutput(globalCtx, c)
 				if err != nil {
 					log.Fatal(err)
 				}
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ var topCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			}
 			defer ui.Close()
 
-			topUI(context.TODO(), c)
+			topUI(globalCtx, c)
 		})
 	},
 }
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/upgrade.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/upgrade.go
index cd7d2c256..ae8c96295 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/upgrade.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/upgrade.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@ func remoteUpgrade() error {
 	setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
 		// TODO: See if we can validate version and prevent
 		// starting upgrades to an unknown version
-		ack, err = c.Upgrade(context.TODO(), assetURL)
+		ack, err = c.Upgrade(globalCtx, assetURL)
 	})
 
 	if err == nil {
diff --git a/cmd/osctl/cmd/version.go b/cmd/osctl/cmd/version.go
index 760eb51f0..162e19108 100644
--- a/cmd/osctl/cmd/version.go
+++ b/cmd/osctl/cmd/version.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ var versionCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			}
 		}
 		setupClient(func(c *client.Client) {
-			version, err := c.Version(context.TODO())
+			version, err := c.Version(globalCtx)
 			if err != nil {
 				helpers.Fatalf("error getting version: %s", err)
 			}