diff --git a/docs/docs/api.xml b/docs/docs/api.xml
index 06d0f648b..fd70ea9be 100644
--- a/docs/docs/api.xml
+++ b/docs/docs/api.xml
@@ -601,10 +601,6 @@
                   <name>register_thread_end_handler</name>
                   <link>dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#register_thread_end_handler</link>
                </item>
-               <item>   
-                  <name>register_program_ending_handler</name>
-                  <link>dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#register_program_ending_handler</link>
-               </item>
                <item>   
                   <name>signaler</name>
                   <link>dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#signaler</link>
diff --git a/docs/docs/release_notes.xml b/docs/docs/release_notes.xml
index 7ade69a59..571f874b0 100644
--- a/docs/docs/release_notes.xml
+++ b/docs/docs/release_notes.xml
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ New Stuff:
 Non-Backwards Compatible Changes:
    - The on_wheel_up() and on_wheel_down() gui events now take an unsigned long
      argument.  
+   - Removed the register_program_ending_handler() function from the threading
+     API and also changed the dlib thread pool so that it no longer causes
+     a terminating program to wait for any outstanding threads to finish
+     before allowing the application to end.
 
 Bug fixes:
 
diff --git a/docs/docs/term_index.xml b/docs/docs/term_index.xml
index a48c085d8..24b1a9d5f 100644
--- a/docs/docs/term_index.xml
+++ b/docs/docs/term_index.xml
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
          <term link="dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#is_dlib_thread" name="is_dlib_thread"/>
          <term link="dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#register_thread_end_handler" name="register_thread_end_handler"/>
          <term link="dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#unregister_thread_end_handler" name="unregister_thread_end_handler"/>
-         <term link="dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#register_program_ending_handler" name="register_program_ending_handler"/>
          <term link="dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#create_new_thread" name="create_new_thread"/>
          <term link="dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#mutex" name="mutex"/>
          <term link="dlib/threads/threads_kernel_abstract.h.html#signaler" name="signaler"/>