diff --git a/fail2ban/client/fail2banclient.py b/fail2ban/client/fail2banclient.py
index 6ea18fda..c72208cd 100755
--- a/fail2ban/client/fail2banclient.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/fail2banclient.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class Fail2banClient(Fail2banCmdLine, Thread):
 				th.daemon = True
 				th.start()
 				# Mark current (main) thread as daemon:
-				self.setDaemon(True)
+				self.daemon = True
 				# Start server direct here in main thread (not fork):
 				self._server = Fail2banServer.startServerDirect(self._conf, False)