diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d69238d..7000d3a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,13 +39,12 @@ tsnd --respawn server.ts
 - `--prefer-ts` (default: false) - for each `.js` file (that is not in `node_modules`) will try to check if corresponding `.ts` version exists and require it.
 - `--ignore-watch` (default: []) - files/folders to be [ignored by `node-dev`](https://github.com/fgnass/node-dev#ignore-paths). **But also this behaviour enhanced:** it will also make up `new RegExp` of passed ignore string and check absolute paths of required files for match.
   So, to ignore everything in `node_modules`, just pass `--ignore-watch node_modules`.
-
 - `--debug` - Some additional debug output.
 - `--interval` - Polling interval (ms)
 - `--debounce` - Debounce file change events (ms, non-polling mode)
 - `--clear` (`--cls`) Will clear screen on restart
 - `--watch` - Explicitly add files or folders to watch and restart on change (list separated by commas)
-- `--exit-child` - Adds 'SIGTERM' exit handler in a child process.
+- `--dont-exit-child` - Don't exit the child process on changes/SIGTERM
 
 **Caveats and points of notice:**
 
diff --git a/bin/ts-node-dev b/bin/ts-node-dev
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 7575ede..117d759
--- a/bin/ts-node-dev
+++ b/bin/ts-node-dev
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ var opts = minimist(devArgs, {
     'prefer-ts-exts',
     'tree-kill',
     'clear', 'cls',
-    'exit-child',
+    'dont-exit-child',
     'rs'
   ],
   string: [
diff --git a/lib/child-require-hook.js b/lib/child-require-hook.js
index 36515e4..6d959b2 100644
--- a/lib/child-require-hook.js
+++ b/lib/child-require-hook.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ var preferTs = false
 var ignore = [/node_modules/]
 var readyFile
 var execCheck = false
-var exitChild = false
+var dontExitChild = false
 var sourceMapSupportPath
 
 var checkFileScript = join(__dirname, 'check-file-exists.js')
@@ -113,10 +113,11 @@ if (readyFile) {
   }
 }
 
-if (exitChild) {
+if (!dontExitChild) {
   process.on('SIGTERM', function() {
+    // This is to make sure debuggers (e.g. Chrome) close
     console.log('Child got SIGTERM, exiting.')
-    process.exit()
+    process.kill(process.pid, 'SIGINT')
   })
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/compiler.js b/lib/compiler.js
index 08a2bc3..c0fded9 100644
--- a/lib/compiler.js
+++ b/lib/compiler.js
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ var compiler = {
   tsConfigPath: '',
   getCompilationId: function() {
     return compilationInstanceStamp
-  },    
-  createCompiledDir: function() {    
+  },
+  createCompiledDir: function() {
     var compiledDir = compiler.getCompiledDir()
     if (!fs.existsSync(compiledDir)) {
       mkdirp.sync(compiler.getCompiledDir())
-    }    
+    }
   },
-  getCompiledDir: function() {    
+  getCompiledDir: function() {
     return path.join(tmpDir, 'compiled').replace(/\\/g, '/')
   },
   getCompileReqFilePath: function() {
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ var compiler = {
     var fileData = fs.writeFileSync(compiler.getCompilerReadyFilePath(), '')
   },
   writeChildHookFile: function(options) {
-    
+
     var fileData = fs.readFileSync(
       path.join(__dirname, 'child-require-hook.js'),
       'utf-8'
@@ -73,10 +73,9 @@ var compiler = {
     }
     if (options['exec-check']) {
       fileData = fileData.replace('execCheck = false', 'execCheck = true')
-    }   
-    
-    if (options['exit-child']) {
-      fileData = fileData.replace('exitChild = false', 'exitChild = true')
+    }
+    if (options['dont-exit-child']) {
+      fileData = fileData.replace('dontExitChild = false', 'dontExitChild = true')
     }
     if (options['ignore'] !== undefined) {
       var ignore = options['ignore']
@@ -112,7 +111,7 @@ var compiler = {
     fileData = fileData.replace(
       'var sourceMapSupportPath',
       'var sourceMapSupportPath = "' + sourceMapSupportPath + '"'
-    )    
+    )
     fileData = fileData.replace(
       /__dirname/,
       '"' + __dirname.replace(/\\/g, '/') + '"'
@@ -171,7 +170,7 @@ var compiler = {
         options['ignoreDiagnostics'] || options['ignore-diagnostics'],
       logError: options['log-error'],
       disableWarnings: options['disableWarnings'],
-      preferTsExts: options['prefer-ts-exts'],      
+      preferTsExts: options['prefer-ts-exts'],
       compilerOptions: compilerOptions,
       files: options['files'] || true
     }