diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 99811cc..da732c5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ Option | Description
 -s  | select initial container sort field
 -scale-cpu	| show cpu as % of system total
 -v	| output version information and exit
+-shell | specify shell (default: sh)
 
 ### Keybindings
 
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ s | Select container sort field
 r | Reverse container sort order
 o | Open single view
 l | View container logs (`t` to toggle timestamp when open)
+e | Exec Shell
 S | Save current configuration to file
 q | Quit ctop
 
diff --git a/config/param.go b/config/param.go
index 30dd036..f0b7ef1 100644
--- a/config/param.go
+++ b/config/param.go
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ var params = []*Param{
 		Val:   "state",
 		Label: "Container Sort Field",
 	},
+	&Param{
+		Key:   "shell",
+		Val:   "sh",
+		Label: "Shell",
+	},
 }
 
 type Param struct {
diff --git a/grid.go b/grid.go
index c646c16..871d3cb 100644
--- a/grid.go
+++ b/grid.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func Display() bool {
 		ui.StopLoop()
 	})
 	ui.Handle("/sys/kbd/e", func(ui.Event) {
-		menu = ExecSh
+		menu = ExecShell
 		ui.StopLoop()
 	})
 	ui.Handle("/sys/kbd/o", func(ui.Event) {
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 3a93a4c..f2eac66 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ func main() {
 		invertFlag      = flag.Bool("i", false, "invert default colors")
 		scaleCpu        = flag.Bool("scale-cpu", false, "show cpu as % of system total")
 		connectorFlag   = flag.String("connector", "docker", "container connector to use")
+		defaultShell    = flag.String("shell", "", "default shell")
 	)
 	flag.Parse()
 
@@ -87,6 +88,10 @@ func main() {
 		config.Toggle("scaleCpu")
 	}
 
+	if *defaultShell != "" {
+		config.Update("shell", *defaultShell)
+	}
+
 	// init ui
 	if *invertFlag {
 		InvertColorMap()
diff --git a/menus.go b/menus.go
index 9ed7542..c4f3ac8 100644
--- a/menus.go
+++ b/menus.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ var helpDialog = []menu.Item{
 	{"[r] - reverse container sort order", ""},
 	{"[o] - open single view", ""},
 	{"[l] - view container logs ([t] to toggle timestamp when open)", ""},
-	{"[e] - exec sh", ""},
+	{"[e] - exec shell", ""},
 	{"[S] - save current configuration to file", ""},
 	{"[q] - exit ctop", ""},
 }
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func ContainerMenu() MenuFn {
 		items = append(items, menu.Item{Val: "stop", Label: "stop"})
 		items = append(items, menu.Item{Val: "pause", Label: "pause"})
 		items = append(items, menu.Item{Val: "restart", Label: "restart"})
-		items = append(items, menu.Item{Val: "exec sh", Label: "exec sh"})
+		items = append(items, menu.Item{Val: "exec shell", Label: "exec shell"})
 	}
 	if c.Meta["state"] == "exited" || c.Meta["state"] == "created" {
 		items = append(items, menu.Item{Val: "start", Label: "start"})
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ func ContainerMenu() MenuFn {
 			nextMenu = SingleView
 		case "logs":
 			nextMenu = LogMenu
-		case "exec sh":
-			nextMenu = ExecSh
+		case "exec shell":
+			nextMenu = ExecShell
 		case "start":
 			nextMenu = Confirm(confirmTxt("start", c.GetMeta("name")), c.Start)
 		case "stop":
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ func LogMenu() MenuFn {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func ExecSh() MenuFn {
+func ExecShell() MenuFn {
 	c := cursor.Selected()
 
 	if c == nil {
@@ -223,7 +223,10 @@ func ExecSh() MenuFn {
 	ui.StopLoop()
 	defer ui.Loop()
 
-	c.Exec([]string{"sh", "-c", "echo '\033[0m' && clear && sh"})
+	shell := config.Get("shell")
+	if err := c.Exec([]string{shell.Val, "-c", "echo '\033[0m' && clear && " + shell.Val}); err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
 
 	return nil
 }