diff --git a/ejabberdctl.template b/ejabberdctl.template
index d255bcbaa..d128cd6e9 100755
--- a/ejabberdctl.template
+++ b/ejabberdctl.template
@@ -305,8 +305,8 @@ case $1 in
         ;;
     etop)
         set_dist_client
-        exec_erl "$(uid top)" -hidden -node "$ERLANG_NODE" -s etop \
-                 -s erlang halt -output text
+        exec_erl "$(uid top)" -hidden -remsh "$ERLANG_NODE" -s etop \
+                 -output text
         ;;
     iexdebug)
         debugwarning