diff --git a/process_monitor.py b/process_monitor.py
index 11bb847..f5503c1 100644
--- a/process_monitor.py
+++ b/process_monitor.py
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ def pre_send (self, test_number):
     def start_target (self):
         """
         Start up the target process by issuing the commands in self.start_commands.
+
+        @returns True if successful. No failure detection yet.
         """
 
         self.log("starting target process")
diff --git a/process_monitor_unix.py b/process_monitor_unix.py
index 7f33d3b..1ef58cd 100644
--- a/process_monitor_unix.py
+++ b/process_monitor_unix.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import signal
 import time
 import threading
+import subprocess
 
 from sulley import pedrpc
 
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ def __init__(self, start_command):
 
     def spawn_target(self):
         print self.tokens
-        self.pid = os.spawnv(os.P_NOWAIT, self.tokens[0], self.tokens)
+        self.pid = subprocess.Popen(self.tokens).pid
         self.alive = True
         
     def start_monitoring(self):
@@ -172,9 +173,11 @@ def pre_send (self, test_number):
         self.test_number = test_number
 
     def start_target (self):
-        '''
+        """
         Start up the target process by issuing the commands in self.start_commands.
-        '''
+
+        @returns True if successful. No failure detection yet.
+        """
 
         self.log("starting target process")
         
@@ -184,6 +187,7 @@ def start_target (self):
         threading.Thread(target=self.dbg.start_monitoring).start()
         self.log("done. target up and running, giving it 5 seconds to settle in.")
         time.sleep(5)
+        return True
 
     def stop_target (self):
         '''