diff --git a/lib/child_process_uv.js b/lib/child_process_uv.js
index 00a43a0790d..6f3a40aa2a5 100644
--- a/lib/child_process_uv.js
+++ b/lib/child_process_uv.js
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ ChildProcess.prototype.kill = function(sig) {
     throw new Error('Unknown signal: ' + sig);
   }
 
-  if (!this.signalCode && !this.exitCode) {
+  if (this._internal) {
     var r = this._internal.kill(signal);
     // TODO: raise error if r == -1?
   }