The yeast Candida albicans is a human commensal microbe, but also an important pathogen. Pathogenesis is strongly associated with switching from the yeast to a filamentous form. The filamentous form evades innate immunity by rapidly killing macrophages. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying macrophage killing are poorly defined. We now provide evidence that C. albicans induces macrophage death in two distinct temporal phases. By using a new live-cell imaging assay we show that initially C. albicans induces host mediated cell death, termed pyroptosis. In contrast to the pro-inflammatory response to C. albicans infections, pyroptosis is induced by a distinct inflammasome. The second phase occurs in the absence of several known host cell death factors. We further provide evidence that C. albicans modulates macrophage death bycontrolling the cell surface architecture of hyphae. Our data suggest that early macrophage escape by hijacking pyroptosis contributes to productive Candida infection.