diff --git a/py/execnet/register.py b/py/execnet/register.py
index 4024757a5..9ac810b08 100644
--- a/py/execnet/register.py
+++ b/py/execnet/register.py
@@ -63,12 +63,15 @@ class PopenCmdGateway(InstallableGateway):
     def __init__(self, cmd):
         # on win close_fds=True does not work, not sure it'd needed
         #p = Popen(cmd, shell=True, stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, close_fds=True)
-        p = Popen(cmd, shell=True, stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE) 
+        self._popen = p = Popen(cmd, shell=True, stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE) 
         infile, outfile = p.stdin, p.stdout
         self._cmd = cmd
         io = inputoutput.Popen2IO(infile, outfile)
         super(PopenCmdGateway, self).__init__(io=io)
 
+    def exit(self):
+        super(PopenCmdGateway, self).exit()
+        self._popen.poll()
 
 class PopenGateway(PopenCmdGateway):
     """ This Gateway provides interaction with a newly started