diff --git a/nodes/core/core/75-exec.html b/nodes/core/core/75-exec.html
index b9279cb73..03a02566a 100644
--- a/nodes/core/core/75-exec.html
+++ b/nodes/core/core/75-exec.html
@@ -46,22 +46,23 @@
 <script type="text/x-red" data-help-name="exec">
     <p>Calls out to a system command.<br/></p>
     <p>Provides 3 outputs: stdout, stderr, and return code.</p>
-    <p>By default uses the <code>exec</code> system call which calls the command, then gets a callback
-    on completion, returning stdout as the payload to the first, the error code as the third
-    and, if available, stderr to the second output. If no error occurred, a zero is returned on the third output.</p>
+    <p>By default uses the <code>exec</code> system call which calls the command, waits for it to complete, and
+    returns the normal output to the first port, any error text to the second port, and a return code object to the
+    third port. For example a succesful command should return <code>{ code: 0 }</code>.</p>
     <p>Optionally can use <code>spawn</code> instead, which returns the output from stdout and stderr
-    as the command runs (usually one line at a time). On completion it then returns a return code
-    (on the 3rd output).</p>
+    as the command runs, usually one line at a time. On completion it then returns a numeric return code
+    on the 3rd port. For example a successful command should return <code>0</code>.</p>
     <p>The <code>exec</code> method spawns a subshell and therefore can be used for more complicated
-    commands involving pipes. However, it waits for completion of the whole command before returing anything.</p> 
-    <p>The optional append gets added to the command after <code>msg.payload</code> - so you can do
+    commands involving pipes. However, it waits for completion of the whole command before returing anything.</p>
+    <p>The optional <b>append</b> gets added to the command after <code>msg.payload</code> - so you can do
     things like pipe the result to another command.</p>
     <p>Commands or parameters with spaces should be enclosed in quotes - <i>"This is a single parameter"</i></p>
-    <p>If stdout is binary a <i>buffer</i> is returned - otherwise returns a <i>string</i>.</p>
-    <p>The blue status icon and PID will be visible while the node is active.</p>
-    <p>Sending <code>msg.kill</code> will kill a single active process. If there is more than one process running then
-    <code>msg.kill</code> must be set with the value of the PID to be killed.</p>
-    <p>Tip: If running a Python app you may need to use the <code>-u</code> parameter to stop the output being buffered.</p>
+    <p>The <code>payload</code> is usually a <i>string</i>, unless binary is detected, in which case it contains a <i>buffer</i>.</p>
+    <p>The blue status icon and PID will be visible while the node is active. This can be read by a <code>status</code> node.</p>
+    <p>Sending <code>msg.kill</code> will kill a single active process. <code>msg.kill</code> should be a string containing
+    the type of signal to be sent, e.g. "SIGINT", "SIGQUIT", "SIGHUP", etc. Defaults to "SIGTERM" if blank ("").
+    If there is more than one process running then <code>msg.pid</code> must also be set with the value of the PID to be killed.</p>
+    <p><b>Tip: </b>If running a Python app you may need to use the <code>-u</code> parameter to stop the output being buffered.</p>
 </script>
 
 <script type="text/javascript">
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@
         },
         inputs:1,
         outputs:3,
-        outputLabels: ["stdout","stderr","rc"],
+        outputLabels: ["stdout","stderr","return code"],
         icon: "arrow-in.png",
         align: "right",
         label: function() {
diff --git a/nodes/core/core/75-exec.js b/nodes/core/core/75-exec.js
index c50ee56a2..7d6355baf 100644
--- a/nodes/core/core/75-exec.js
+++ b/nodes/core/core/75-exec.js
@@ -39,13 +39,16 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
 
         this.on("input", function(msg) {
             if (msg.hasOwnProperty("kill")) {
-                if (node.activeProcesses.hasOwnProperty(msg.kill) ) {
-                    node.activeProcesses[msg.kill].kill();
-                    node.status({fill:"red",shape:"dot",text:"killed"});
+                if (typeof msg.kill !== "string" || msg.kill.length === 0 || !msg.kill.toUpperCase().startsWith("SIG") ) { msg.kill = ""; }
+                if (msg.hasOwnProperty("pid")) {
+                    if (node.activeProcesses.hasOwnProperty(msg.pid) ) {
+                        node.activeProcesses[msg.pid].kill(msg.kill.toUpperCase());
+                        node.status({fill:"red",shape:"dot",text:"killed"});
+                    }
                 }
                 else {
                     if (Object.keys(node.activeProcesses).length === 1) {
-                        node.activeProcesses[Object.keys(node.activeProcesses)[0]].kill();
+                        node.activeProcesses[Object.keys(node.activeProcesses)[0]].kill(msg.kill.toUpperCase());
                         node.status({fill:"red",shape:"dot",text:"killed"});
                     }
                 }
@@ -149,7 +152,7 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                 /* istanbul ignore else  */
                 if (node.activeProcesses.hasOwnProperty(pid)) {
                     if (node.activeProcesses[pid].tout) { clearTimeout(node.activeProcesses[pid].tout); }
-                    // console.log("KILLLING",pid);
+                    // console.log("KILLING",pid);
                     var process = node.activeProcesses[pid];
                     node.activeProcesses[pid] = null;
                     process.kill();
diff --git a/test/nodes/core/core/75-exec_spec.js b/test/nodes/core/core/75-exec_spec.js
index 455324241..a3417a85c 100644
--- a/test/nodes/core/core/75-exec_spec.js
+++ b/test/nodes/core/core/75-exec_spec.js
@@ -239,7 +239,32 @@ describe('exec node', function() {
                     }
                 });
                 setTimeout(function() {
-                    n1.receive({kill:true});
+                    n1.receive({kill:""});
+                },150);
+                n1.receive({});
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('should be able to kill a long running command - SIGINT', function(done) {
+            var flow = [{id:"n1",type:"exec",wires:[["n2"],["n3"],["n4"]],command:"sleep", addpay:false, append:"1", timer:"2"},
+                        {id:"n2", type:"helper"},{id:"n3", type:"helper"},{id:"n4", type:"helper"}];
+            helper.load(execNode, flow, function() {
+                var n1 = helper.getNode("n1");
+                var n2 = helper.getNode("n2");
+                var n3 = helper.getNode("n3");
+                var n4 = helper.getNode("n4");
+                n4.on("input", function(msg) {
+                    try {
+                        msg.should.have.property("payload");
+                        msg.payload.should.have.property("killed",true);
+                        msg.payload.should.have.property("signal","SIGINT");
+                        done();
+                    } catch(err) {
+                        done(err);
+                    }
+                });
+                setTimeout(function() {
+                    n1.receive({kill:"sigint"});
                 },150);
                 n1.receive({});
             });
@@ -509,7 +534,28 @@ describe('exec node', function() {
                     done();
                 });
                 setTimeout(function() {
-                    n1.receive({kill:true});
+                    n1.receive({kill:""});
+                },150);
+                n1.receive({});
+            });
+        });
+
+        it('should be able to kill a long running command - SIGQUIT', function(done) {
+            var flow = [{id:"n1",type:"exec",wires:[["n2"],["n3"],["n4"]],command:"sleep", addpay:false, append:"1", timer:"2"},
+                        {id:"n2", type:"helper"},{id:"n3", type:"helper"},{id:"n4", type:"helper"}];
+            helper.load(execNode, flow, function() {
+                var n1 = helper.getNode("n1");
+                var n2 = helper.getNode("n2");
+                var n3 = helper.getNode("n3");
+                var n4 = helper.getNode("n4");
+                n4.on("input", function(msg) {
+                    msg.should.have.property("payload");
+                    msg.payload.should.have.property("killed",true);
+                    msg.payload.should.have.property("signal","SIGQUIT");
+                    done();
+                });
+                setTimeout(function() {
+                    n1.receive({kill:"sigquit"});
                 },150);
                 n1.receive({});
             });