diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b57b589..f536090 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -245,17 +245,20 @@ nginx:
     command: "docker stop nginx_test"
     timeout_seconds: 10 # default 10
     signal: 15 # default 15, but only if the 'command' is not defined or empty
+    parent_only: no  # default no. If yes, only signal the running process instead of its whole process group
 ```
 
-`shutdown` is optional and can be omitted. The default behavior in this case: `SIGTERM` is issued to the running process.
+`shutdown` is optional and can be omitted. The default behavior in this case: `SIGTERM` is issued to the process group of the running process.
 
-In case only `shutdown.signal` is defined `[1..31] ` the running process will be terminated with its value.
+In case only `shutdown.signal` is defined `[1..31] ` the running process group will be terminated with its value.
+
+If `shutdown.parent_only` is yes, the signal is only sent to the running process and not to the whole process group.
 
 In case the `shutdown.command` is defined:
 
 1. The `shutdown.command` is executed with all the Environment Variables of the primary process
 2. Wait for `shutdown.timeout_seconds` for its completion (if not defined wait for 10 seconds)
-3. In case of timeout, the process will receive the `SIGKILL` signal
+3. In case of timeout, the process group will receive the `SIGKILL` signal (irrespective of the `shutdown.parent_only` option).
 
 ##### Background (detached) Processes
 
diff --git a/src/app/process.go b/src/app/process.go
index f595e9c..bc91139 100644
--- a/src/app/process.go
+++ b/src/app/process.go
@@ -248,7 +248,8 @@ func (p *Process) shutDown() error {
 	if isStringDefined(p.procConf.ShutDownParams.ShutDownCommand) {
 		return p.doConfiguredStop(p.procConf.ShutDownParams)
 	}
-	return p.stop(p.procConf.ShutDownParams.Signal)
+
+	return p.stop(p.procConf.ShutDownParams.Signal, p.procConf.ShutDownParams.ParentOnly)
 }
 
 func (p *Process) doConfiguredStop(params types.ShutDownParams) error {
@@ -267,7 +268,7 @@ func (p *Process) doConfiguredStop(params types.ShutDownParams) error {
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		// the process termination timedout and it will be killed
 		log.Error().Msgf("terminating %s with timeout %d failed - %s", p.getName(), timeout, err.Error())
-		return p.stop(int(syscall.SIGKILL))
+		return p.stop(int(syscall.SIGKILL), false)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/src/app/process_unix.go b/src/app/process_unix.go
index 3eb46b6..de7717f 100644
--- a/src/app/process_unix.go
+++ b/src/app/process_unix.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 package app
 
 import (
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 	"syscall"
 )
 
@@ -11,17 +12,30 @@ const (
 	max_sig = 31
 )
 
-func (p *Process) stop(sig int) error {
+func (p *Process) stop(sig int, parentOnly bool) error {
 	if p.command == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 	if sig < min_sig || sig > max_sig {
 		sig = int(syscall.SIGTERM)
 	}
+
+	log.
+		Debug().
+		Int("pid", p.command.Process.Pid).
+		Int("signal", sig).
+		Bool("parentOnly", parentOnly).
+		Msg("Stop Unix process.")
+
+	if parentOnly {
+		return syscall.Kill(p.command.Process.Pid, syscall.Signal(sig))
+	}
+
 	pgid, err := syscall.Getpgid(p.command.Process.Pid)
 	if err == nil {
 		return syscall.Kill(-pgid, syscall.Signal(sig))
 	}
+
 	return err
 }
 
diff --git a/src/app/process_windows.go b/src/app/process_windows.go
index 448dd8b..2420fd1 100644
--- a/src/app/process_windows.go
+++ b/src/app/process_windows.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 )
 
-func (p *Process) stop(sig int) error {
+func (p *Process) stop(sig int, _parentOnly bool) error {
 	//p.command.Process.Kill()
 	kill := exec.Command("TASKKILL", "/T", "/F", "/PID", strconv.Itoa(p.command.Process.Pid))
 	return kill.Run()
diff --git a/src/types/process.go b/src/types/process.go
index 8dc53cc..0935484 100644
--- a/src/types/process.go
+++ b/src/types/process.go
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ type ShutDownParams struct {
 	ShutDownCommand string `yaml:"command,omitempty"`
 	ShutDownTimeout int    `yaml:"timeout_seconds,omitempty"`
 	Signal          int    `yaml:"signal,omitempty"`
+	ParentOnly      bool   `yaml:"parent_only,omitempty"`
 }
 
 const (