python - Stop SIGALRM when function returns -

i have problem can't seem solve myself. i'm writing small python script , know why signal.alarm still works after function it's located in returned. here code:

class alarmexception(exception):     pass  def alarmhandler(signum, frame):     raise alarmexception  def startgame():     import signal     signal.signal(signal.sigalrm, alarmhandler)     signal.alarm(5)     try:         # some code...         return 1     except alarmexception:         # code...         return -1  def main():     printheader()     keepplaying = true     while keepplaying:         score = 0         level in range(1):             score += startgame()         answer = raw_input('would keep playing ? (y/n)\n')         keepplaying = answer in ('y', 'y') 

so problem when startgame() function returns, sigalrm still counting down , shutdown program. here traceback:

would keep playing ? (y/n) traceback (most recent call last):   file "game.py", line 84, in <module>     main()   file "game.py", line 80, in main     answer = raw_input('would keep playing ? (y/n)\n')   file "game.py", line 7, in alarmhandler     raise alarmexception __main__.alarmexception 

how can proceed sigalrm stop when function in has exited ?

thanks !

try calling signal.alarm(0) when want disable alarm.

in likelyhood calls alarm() in libc, , man alarm says alarm(0) "... voids current alarm , signal sigalrm not delivered."