4 files changed, 12 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/src/bitcoind.cpp b/src/bitcoind.cpp
index 615b955f6e..17989a4214 100644
--- a/src/bitcoind.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoind.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ static bool AppInit(int argc, char* argv[])
 
     bool fRet = false;
 
-    util::ThreadRename("init");
+    util::ThreadSetInternalName("init");
 
     //
     // Parameters
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index ec6075c8fb..86f4dc91a1 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ int GuiMain(int argc, char* argv[])
     std::tie(argc, argv) = winArgs.get();
 #endif
     SetupEnvironment();
-    util::ThreadRename("main");
+    util::ThreadSetInternalName("main");
 
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Node> node = interfaces::MakeNode();
 
diff --git a/src/util/threadnames.cpp b/src/util/threadnames.cpp
index c25e9ed661..168f9325d0 100644
--- a/src/util/threadnames.cpp
+++ b/src/util/threadnames.cpp
@@ -60,3 +60,8 @@ void util::ThreadRename(std::string&& name)
     SetThreadName(("b-" + name).c_str());
     SetInternalName(std::move(name));
 }
+
+void util::ThreadSetInternalName(std::string&& name)
+{
+    SetInternalName(std::move(name));
+}
diff --git a/src/util/threadnames.h b/src/util/threadnames.h
index aaf07b9bf8..69a1b55bfe 100644
--- a/src/util/threadnames.h
+++ b/src/util/threadnames.h
@@ -10,8 +10,13 @@
 namespace util {
 //! Rename a thread both in terms of an internal (in-memory) name as well
 //! as its system thread name.
+//! @note Do not call this for the main thread, as this will interfere with
+//! UNIX utilities such as top and killall. Use ThreadSetInternalName instead.
 void ThreadRename(std::string&&);
 
+//! Set the internal (in-memory) name of the current thread only.
+void ThreadSetInternalName(std::string&&);
+
 //! Get the thread's internal (in-memory) name; used e.g. for identification in
 //! logging.
 const std::string& ThreadGetInternalName();