diff --git a/selfdrive/manager.py b/selfdrive/manager.py
index 1c5a1058ef..e0fd94291f 100755
--- a/selfdrive/manager.py
+++ b/selfdrive/manager.py
@@ -353,7 +353,8 @@ def kill_managed_process(name):
         join_process(running[name], 15)
         if running[name].exitcode is None:
           cloudlog.critical("unkillable process %s failed to die!" % name)
-          os.system("date >> /sdcard/unkillable_reboot")
+          os.system("date >> /data/unkillable_reboot")
+          os.sync()
           HARDWARE.reboot()
           raise RuntimeError
       else: