diff --git a/cmd/ctr/commands/tasks/kill.go b/cmd/ctr/commands/tasks/kill.go
index 5b1a5f427..4d2a80adf 100644
--- a/cmd/ctr/commands/tasks/kill.go
+++ b/cmd/ctr/commands/tasks/kill.go
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 package tasks
 
 import (
+	"github.com/containerd/containerd"
 	"github.com/containerd/containerd/cmd/ctr/commands"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli"
 )
 
-// TODO:(jessvalarezo) the pid flag is not used here
-// update to be able to signal given pid
 var killCommand = cli.Command{
 	Name:      "kill",
 	Usage:     "signal a container (default: SIGTERM)",
@@ -18,10 +17,9 @@ var killCommand = cli.Command{
 			Value: "SIGTERM",
 			Usage: "signal to send to the container",
 		},
-		cli.IntFlag{
-			Name:  "pid",
-			Usage: "pid to kill",
-			Value: 0,
+		cli.StringFlag{
+			Name:  "exec-id",
+			Usage: "process ID to kill",
 		},
 		cli.BoolFlag{
 			Name:  "all, a",
@@ -38,17 +36,24 @@ var killCommand = cli.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 		var (
-			pid = context.Int("pid")
-			all = context.Bool("all")
+			all    = context.Bool("all")
+			execID = context.String("exec-id")
+			opts   []containerd.KillOpts
 		)
-		if pid > 0 && all {
-			return errors.New("enter a pid or all; not both")
+		if all && execID != "" {
+			return errors.New("specify an exec-id or all; not both")
 		}
 		client, ctx, cancel, err := commands.NewClient(context)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		defer cancel()
+		if all {
+			opts = append(opts, containerd.WithKillAll)
+		}
+		if execID != "" {
+			opts = append(opts, containerd.WithKillExecID(execID))
+		}
 		container, err := client.LoadContainer(ctx, id)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -57,6 +62,6 @@ var killCommand = cli.Command{
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		return task.Kill(ctx, signal)
+		return task.Kill(ctx, signal, opts...)
 	},
 }
diff --git a/process.go b/process.go
index e51367aaa..ebefb6973 100644
--- a/process.go
+++ b/process.go
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func (p *process) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 func (p *process) Kill(ctx context.Context, s syscall.Signal, opts ...KillOpts) error {
 	var i KillInfo
 	for _, o := range opts {
-		if err := o(ctx, p, &i); err != nil {
+		if err := o(ctx, &i); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/task.go b/task.go
index 7ae1bf622..a4e5fe4d1 100644
--- a/task.go
+++ b/task.go
@@ -175,13 +175,14 @@ func (t *task) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 func (t *task) Kill(ctx context.Context, s syscall.Signal, opts ...KillOpts) error {
 	var i KillInfo
 	for _, o := range opts {
-		if err := o(ctx, t, &i); err != nil {
+		if err := o(ctx, &i); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
 	_, err := t.client.TaskService().Kill(ctx, &tasks.KillRequest{
 		Signal:      uint32(s),
 		ContainerID: t.id,
+		ExecID:      i.ExecID,
 		All:         i.All,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/task_opts.go b/task_opts.go
index d8569f572..a387adb6e 100644
--- a/task_opts.go
+++ b/task_opts.go
@@ -65,13 +65,23 @@ type KillInfo struct {
 	// All kills all processes inside the task
 	// only valid on tasks, ignored on processes
 	All bool
+	// ExecID is the ID of a process to kill
+	ExecID string
 }
 
 // KillOpts allows options to be set for the killing of a process
-type KillOpts func(context.Context, Process, *KillInfo) error
+type KillOpts func(context.Context, *KillInfo) error
 
 // WithKillAll kills all processes for a task
-func WithKillAll(ctx context.Context, p Process, i *KillInfo) error {
+func WithKillAll(ctx context.Context, i *KillInfo) error {
 	i.All = true
 	return nil
 }
+
+// WithKillExecID specifies the process ID
+func WithKillExecID(execID string) KillOpts {
+	return func(ctx context.Context, i *KillInfo) error {
+		i.ExecID = execID
+		return nil
+	}
+}