diff --git a/include/uv-unix.h b/include/uv-unix.h
index cad2ed4a..72c66a9f 100644
--- a/include/uv-unix.h
+++ b/include/uv-unix.h
@@ -132,4 +132,7 @@ typedef struct {
   struct addrinfo* res; \
   int retcode;
 
+#define UV_PROCESS_PRIVATE_FIELDS \
+  ev_child child_watcher;
+
 #endif /* UV_UNIX_H */
diff --git a/include/uv.h b/include/uv.h
index e2ef403b..d72caa6d 100644
--- a/include/uv.h
+++ b/include/uv.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ typedef struct uv_check_s uv_check_t;
 typedef struct uv_idle_s uv_idle_t;
 typedef struct uv_async_s uv_async_t;
 typedef struct uv_getaddrinfo_s uv_getaddrinfo_t;
+typedef struct uv_process_s uv_process_t;
 /* Request types */
 typedef struct uv_req_s uv_req_t;
 typedef struct uv_shutdown_s uv_shutdown_t;
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ typedef void (*uv_prepare_cb)(uv_prepare_t* handle, int status);
 typedef void (*uv_check_cb)(uv_check_t* handle, int status);
 typedef void (*uv_idle_cb)(uv_idle_t* handle, int status);
 typedef void (*uv_getaddrinfo_cb)(uv_getaddrinfo_t* handle, int status, struct addrinfo* res);
+typedef void (*uv_exit_cb)(uv_process_t*, int exit_status, int term_signal);
 
 
 /* Expand this list if necessary. */
@@ -145,7 +147,8 @@ typedef enum {
   UV_ASYNC,
   UV_ARES_TASK,
   UV_ARES_EVENT,
-  UV_GETADDRINFO
+  UV_GETADDRINFO,
+  UV_PROCESS
 } uv_handle_type;
 
 typedef enum {
@@ -495,6 +498,41 @@ struct uv_getaddrinfo_s {
                     const char* service,
                     const struct addrinfo* hints);
 
+/*
+ * Child process. Subclass of uv_handle_t.
+ */
+typedef struct uv_process_options_s {
+  uv_exit_cb exit_cb;
+  const char* file;
+  char** args;
+  char** env;
+  char* cwd;
+  /*
+   * The user should supply pointers to uninitialized uv_pipe_t structs for
+   * stdio. They will be initialized by uv_spawn. The user is reponsible for
+   * calling uv_close on them.
+   */
+  uv_pipe_t* stdin_stream;
+  uv_pipe_t* stdout_stream;
+  uv_pipe_t* stderr_stream;
+} uv_process_options_t;
+
+struct uv_process_s {
+  UV_HANDLE_FIELDS
+  uv_exit_cb exit_cb;
+  int pid;
+  UV_PROCESS_PRIVATE_FIELDS
+};
+
+/* Initializes uv_process_t and starts the process. */
+int uv_spawn(uv_process_t*, uv_process_options_t options);
+
+/*
+ * Kills the process with the specified signal. The user must still
+ * call uv_close on the process.
+ */
+int uv_process_kill(uv_process_t*, int signum);
+
 
 /*
  * Most functions return boolean: 0 for success and -1 for failure.
@@ -576,6 +614,7 @@ typedef struct {
   uint64_t idle_init;
   uint64_t async_init;
   uint64_t timer_init;
+  uint64_t process_init;
 } uv_counters_t;
 
 uv_counters_t* uv_counters();
diff --git a/src/uv-unix.c b/src/uv-unix.c
index 69cdd604..43c0bb6a 100644
--- a/src/uv-unix.c
+++ b/src/uv-unix.c
@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@
 #endif
 
 
+# ifdef __APPLE__
+# include <crt_externs.h>
+# define environ (*_NSGetEnviron())
+# else
+extern char **environ;
+# endif
+
+
 static uv_err_t last_err;
 
 struct uv_ares_data_s {
@@ -194,6 +202,7 @@ void uv_close(uv_handle_t* handle, uv_close_cb close_cb) {
   uv_pipe_t* pipe;
   uv_async_t* async;
   uv_timer_t* timer;
+  uv_process_t* process;
 
   handle->close_cb = close_cb;
 
@@ -246,6 +255,11 @@ void uv_close(uv_handle_t* handle, uv_close_cb close_cb) {
       ev_io_stop(EV_DEFAULT_ &pipe->write_watcher);
       break;
 
+    case UV_PROCESS:
+      process = (uv_process_t*)handle;
+      ev_child_stop(EV_DEFAULT_UC_ &process->child_watcher);
+      break;
+
     default:
       assert(0);
   }
@@ -583,6 +597,10 @@ void uv__finish_close(uv_handle_t* handle) {
       break;
     }
 
+    case UV_PROCESS:
+      assert(!ev_is_active(&((uv_process_t*)handle)->child_watcher));
+      break;
+
     default:
       assert(0);
       break;
@@ -1562,7 +1580,7 @@ int64_t uv_timer_get_repeat(uv_timer_t* timer) {
 
 
 /*
- * This is called once per second by ares_data.timer. It is used to 
+ * This is called once per second by ares_data.timer. It is used to
  * constantly callback into c-ares for possibly processing timeouts.
  */
 static void uv__ares_timeout(EV_P_ struct ev_timer* watcher, int revents) {
@@ -2137,3 +2155,156 @@ size_t uv__strlcpy(char* dst, const char* src, size_t size) {
 uv_stream_t* uv_std_handle(uv_std_type type) {
   assert(0 && "implement me");
 }
+
+
+static void uv__chld(EV_P_ ev_child* watcher, int revents) {
+  int status = watcher->rstatus;
+  int exit_status = 0;
+  int term_signal = 0;
+  uv_process_t *process = watcher->data;
+
+  assert(&process->child_watcher == watcher);
+  assert(revents & EV_CHILD);
+
+  ev_child_stop(EV_A_ &process->child_watcher);
+
+  if (WIFEXITED(status)) {
+    exit_status = WEXITSTATUS(status);
+  }
+
+  if (WIFSIGNALED(status)) {
+    term_signal = WTERMSIG(status);
+  }
+
+  if (process->exit_cb) {
+    process->exit_cb(process, exit_status, term_signal);
+  }
+}
+
+
+int uv_spawn(uv_process_t* process, uv_process_options_t options) {
+  /*
+   * Save environ in the case that we get it clobbered
+   * by the child process.
+   */
+  char** save_our_env = environ;
+  int stdin_pipe[2] = { -1, -1 };
+  int stdout_pipe[2] = { -1, -1 };
+  int stderr_pipe[2] = { -1, -1 };
+  pid_t pid;
+
+  uv__handle_init((uv_handle_t*)process, UV_PROCESS);
+  uv_counters()->process_init++;
+
+  process->exit_cb = options.exit_cb;
+
+
+  if (options.stdin_stream && pipe(stdin_pipe) < 0) {
+    goto error;
+  }
+
+  if (options.stdout_stream && pipe(stdout_pipe) < 0) {
+    goto error;
+  }
+
+  if (options.stderr_stream && pipe(stderr_pipe) < 0) {
+    goto error;
+  }
+
+  pid = fork();
+
+  if (pid == 0) {
+    if (stdin_pipe[0] >= 0) {
+      close(stdin_pipe[1]);
+      dup2(stdin_pipe[0],  STDIN_FILENO);
+    }
+
+    if (stdout_pipe[1] >= 0) {
+      close(stdout_pipe[0]);
+      dup2(stdout_pipe[1], STDOUT_FILENO);
+    }
+
+    if (stderr_pipe[1] >= 0) {
+      close(stderr_pipe[0]);
+      dup2(stderr_pipe[1], STDERR_FILENO);
+    }
+
+    if (options.cwd && chdir(options.cwd)) {
+      perror("chdir()");
+      _exit(127);
+    }
+
+    environ = options.env;
+
+    execvp(options.file, options.args);
+    perror("execvp()");
+    _exit(127);
+    /* Execution never reaches here. */
+  } else if (pid == -1) {
+    /* Restore environment. */
+    environ = save_our_env;
+    goto error;
+  }
+
+  /* Parent. */
+
+  /* Restore environment. */
+  environ = save_our_env;
+
+  process->pid = pid;
+
+  ev_child_init(&process->child_watcher, uv__chld, pid, 0);
+  ev_child_start(EV_DEFAULT_UC_ &process->child_watcher);
+  process->child_watcher.data = process;
+
+  if (stdin_pipe[1] >= 0) {
+    assert(options.stdin_stream);
+    assert(stdin_pipe[0] >= 0);
+    close(stdin_pipe[0]);
+    uv__nonblock(stdin_pipe[1], 1);
+    uv_pipe_init(options.stdin_stream);
+    uv__stream_open(options.stdin_stream, stdin_pipe[1]);
+  }
+
+  if (stdout_pipe[0] >= 0) {
+    assert(options.stdout_stream);
+    assert(stdout_pipe[1] >= 0);
+    close(stdout_pipe[1]);
+    uv__nonblock(stdout_pipe[0], 1);
+    uv_pipe_init(options.stdout_stream);
+    uv__stream_open(options.stdout_stream, stdout_pipe[0]);
+  }
+
+  if (stderr_pipe[0] >= 0) {
+    assert(options.stderr_stream);
+    assert(stderr_pipe[1] >= 0);
+    close(stderr_pipe[1]);
+    uv__nonblock(stderr_pipe[0], 1);
+    uv_pipe_init(options.stderr_stream);
+    uv__stream_open(options.stderr_stream, stderr_pipe[0]);
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+
+error:
+  uv_err_new((uv_handle_t*)process, errno);
+  close(stdin_pipe[0]);
+  close(stdin_pipe[1]);
+  close(stdout_pipe[0]);
+  close(stdout_pipe[1]);
+  close(stderr_pipe[0]);
+  close(stderr_pipe[1]);
+  return -1;
+}
+
+
+int uv_process_kill(uv_process_t* process, int signum) {
+  int r = kill(process->pid, signum);
+
+  if (r) {
+    uv_err_new((uv_handle_t*)process, errno);
+    return -1;
+  } else {
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/run-tests.c b/test/run-tests.c
index 7ae6c6c7..a050172e 100644
--- a/test/run-tests.c
+++ b/test/run-tests.c
@@ -34,8 +34,14 @@
 
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+  int i;
+
   platform_init(argc, argv);
 
+  if (argc == 2 && strcmp(argv[1], "spawn_helper1") == 0) {
+    return 1;
+  }
+
   switch (argc) {
   case 1: return run_tests(TEST_TIMEOUT, 0);
   case 2: return run_test(argv[1], TEST_TIMEOUT, 0);
diff --git a/test/test-list.h b/test/test-list.h
index de9f1d3a..741cac2e 100644
--- a/test/test-list.h
+++ b/test/test-list.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ TEST_DECLARE   (gethostbyname)
 TEST_DECLARE   (getsockname)
 TEST_DECLARE   (fail_always)
 TEST_DECLARE   (pass_always)
+TEST_DECLARE   (spawn_exit_code)
 HELPER_DECLARE (tcp4_echo_server)
 HELPER_DECLARE (tcp6_echo_server)
 HELPER_DECLARE (pipe_echo_server)
@@ -140,6 +141,8 @@ TASK_LIST_START
 
   TEST_ENTRY  (getsockname)
 
+  TEST_ENTRY  (spawn_exit_code)
+
 #if 0
   /* These are for testing the test runner. */
   TEST_ENTRY  (fail_always)
diff --git a/test/test-spawn.c b/test/test-spawn.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9690b610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test-spawn.c
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+/* Copyright Joyent, Inc. and other Node contributors. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to
+ * deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the
+ * rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or
+ * sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
+ * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS
+ * IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#include "uv.h"
+#include "task.h"
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+static int close_cb_called;
+static int exit_cb_called;
+
+static void close_cb(uv_handle_t* handle) {
+  printf("close_cb\n");
+  close_cb_called++;
+}
+
+static void exit_cb(uv_process_t* process, int exit_status, int term_signal) {
+  printf("exit_cb\n");
+  exit_cb_called++;
+  ASSERT(exit_status == 1);
+  ASSERT(term_signal == 0);
+  uv_close((uv_handle_t*)process, close_cb);
+}
+
+
+TEST_IMPL(spawn_exit_code) {
+  int r;
+  char exepath[1024];
+  size_t exepath_size = 1024;
+  uv_process_t process;
+  uv_process_options_t options = { 0 };
+  /* Note spawn_helper1 defined in test/run-tests.c */
+  char* args[3] = { NULL, "spawn_helper1", NULL };
+
+  r = uv_exepath(exepath, &exepath_size);
+  ASSERT(r == 0);
+  exepath[exepath_size] = '\0';
+  options.file = exepath;
+  args[0] = exepath;
+
+  options.args = args;
+  options.exit_cb = exit_cb;
+
+  uv_init();
+
+  r = uv_spawn(&process, options);
+  ASSERT(r == 0);
+  
+  r = uv_run();
+  ASSERT(r == 0);
+
+  ASSERT(exit_cb_called == 1);
+  ASSERT(close_cb_called == 1);
+
+  return 0;
+}