diff --git a/bin/mocha.js b/bin/mocha.js
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index fb58e65fcd..dee9d3a67d
--- a/bin/mocha.js
+++ b/bin/mocha.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
  * @private
  */
 
+const os = require('os');
 const {loadOptions} = require('../lib/cli/options');
 const {
   unparseNodeFlags,
@@ -109,7 +110,13 @@ if (mochaArgs['node-option'] || Object.keys(nodeArgs).length || hasInspect) {
   proc.on('exit', (code, signal) => {
     process.on('exit', () => {
       if (signal) {
-        process.kill(process.pid, signal);
+        const numericSignal =
+          typeof signal === 'string' ? os.constants.signals[signal] : signal;
+        if (mochaArgs['posix-exit-codes'] === true) {
+          process.exit(128 + numericSignal);
+        } else {
+          process.kill(process.pid, signal);
+        }
       } else {
         process.exit(code);
       }
@@ -126,7 +133,7 @@ if (mochaArgs['node-option'] || Object.keys(nodeArgs).length || hasInspect) {
     // be needed.
     if (!args.parallel || args.jobs < 2) {
       // win32 does not support SIGTERM, so use next best thing.
-      if (require('os').platform() === 'win32') {
+      if (os.platform() === 'win32') {
         proc.kill('SIGKILL');
       } else {
         // using SIGKILL won't cleanly close the output streams, which can result
diff --git a/lib/cli/run-option-metadata.js b/lib/cli/run-option-metadata.js
index 492608fbdd..91a0282e7b 100644
--- a/lib/cli/run-option-metadata.js
+++ b/lib/cli/run-option-metadata.js
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ const TYPES = (exports.types = {
     'list-reporters',
     'no-colors',
     'parallel',
+    'posix-exit-codes',
     'recursive',
     'sort',
     'watch'
diff --git a/lib/cli/run.js b/lib/cli/run.js
index fbbe510e94..a4830e97e6 100644
--- a/lib/cli/run.js
+++ b/lib/cli/run.js
@@ -190,6 +190,10 @@ exports.builder = yargs =>
         description: 'Run tests in parallel',
         group: GROUPS.RULES
       },
+      'posix-exit-codes': {
+        description: 'Use posix exit codes for fatal signals',
+        group: GROUPS.RULES
+      },
       recursive: {
         description: 'Look for tests in subdirectories',
         group: GROUPS.FILES
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/signals-sigabrt.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/signals-sigabrt.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..037111097b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/signals-sigabrt.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+'use strict';
+
+describe('signal suite', function () {
+  it('test SIGABRT', function () {
+    process.kill(process.pid, 'SIGABRT');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/signals-sigterm.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/signals-sigterm.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2f1d01c700
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/signals-sigterm.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+'use strict';
+
+describe('signal suite', function () {
+  it('test SIGTERM', function () {
+    process.kill(process.pid, 'SIGTERM');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/options/posixExitCodes.spec.js b/test/integration/options/posixExitCodes.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f33f65a0ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/options/posixExitCodes.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+'use strict';
+
+var helpers = require('../helpers');
+var runMocha = helpers.runMocha;
+
+describe('--posix-exit-codes', function () {
+  describe('when enabled with node options', function () {
+    var args = ['--no-warnings', '--posix-exit-codes'];
+
+    it('should exit with code 134 on SIGABRT', function (done) {
+      var fixture = 'signals-sigabrt.fixture.js';
+      runMocha(fixture, args, function postmortem(err, res) {
+        if (err) {
+          return done(err);
+        }
+        expect(res.code, 'to be', 134);
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should exit with code 143 on SIGTERM', function (done) {
+      var fixture = 'signals-sigterm.fixture.js';
+      runMocha(fixture, args, function postmortem(err, res) {
+        if (err) {
+          return done(err);
+        }
+        expect(res.code, 'to be', 143);
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when not enabled with node options', function () {
+    it('should exit with code null on SIGABRT', function (done) {
+      var fixture = 'signals-sigabrt.fixture.js';
+      var args = ['--no-warnings'];
+      runMocha(fixture, args, function postmortem(err, res) {
+        if (err) {
+          return done(err);
+        }
+        expect(res.code, 'to be', null);
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});