diff --git a/kong/tools/io.lua b/kong/tools/io.lua
index 8f5f1cc7086..dba1d6557ad 100644
--- a/kong/tools/io.lua
+++ b/kong/tools/io.lua
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ end
 --
 -- @param {string} the pid to kill
 function _M.kill_process_by_pid(pid, signal)
-  return _M.os_execute("kill "..(signal and "-"..tostring(signal).." " or "")..pid.." && wait "..pid)
+  local res, code = _M.os_execute("kill "..(signal and "-"..tostring(signal).." " or "")..pid)
+  _M.os_execute("wait "..pid)
+  return res, code
 end
 
 function _M.read_file(path)