diff --git a/pupy/modules/lib/linux/exec_elf.py b/pupy/modules/lib/linux/exec_elf.py
index a4ea05a6..252e4015 100644
--- a/pupy/modules/lib/linux/exec_elf.py
+++ b/pupy/modules/lib/linux/exec_elf.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ def mexec(module, path, argv, argv0=None, interactive=False, raw=False, codepage
         data, argv0, args = argv,
         no_stdin = not interactive,
         no_stdor = not interactive,
+        redirect_stdio = interactive,
         compressed = True,
         terminate = interactive
     )
@@ -44,3 +45,9 @@ def mexec(module, path, argv, argv0=None, interactive=False, raw=False, codepage
         else:
             complete.set()
             module.error('Launch failed. Press ENTER')
+
+    else:
+        if module.mp.run():
+            module.success('Process started: {}'.format(module.mp.pid))
+        else:
+            module.error('Launch failed')
diff --git a/pupy/packages/linux/all/memexec.py b/pupy/packages/linux/all/memexec.py
index 9bca869f..1b3e49b5 100644
--- a/pupy/packages/linux/all/memexec.py
+++ b/pupy/packages/linux/all/memexec.py
@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ class MExec(object):
         self.pid = pid
         self.stdin, self.stdout, self.stderr = stdior
 
+        if not self.redirect_stdio:
+            return True
+
         if self.no_stdin:
             self.stdin.close()
             self.stdin = None