diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 89d7d9403..845da6579 100755
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ const debug = debugLib('lint-staged:bin')
 cmdline
   .version(pkg.version)
   .option('-c, --config [path]', 'Path to configuration file')
+  .option('-x, --shell', 'Use execa’s shell mode to execute linter commands')
+  .option('-s, --silent', 'Use Listr’s silent renderer')
   .option('-d, --debug', 'Enable debug mode')
   .parse(process.argv)
 
@@ -28,4 +30,4 @@ if (cmdline.debug) {
 
 debug('Running `lint-staged@%s`', pkg.version)
 
-require('./src')(console, cmdline.config, cmdline.debug)
+require('./src')(console, cmdline.config, !!cmdline.shell, !!cmdline.silent, !!cmdline.debug)
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index cf2604a35..a74e74595 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
     "micromatch": "^3.1.8",
     "path-is-inside": "^1.0.2",
     "please-upgrade-node": "^3.0.2",
+    "string-argv": "^0.3.0",
     "stringify-object": "^3.2.2"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 3f017a210..d954cf868 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -44,8 +44,19 @@ function loadConfig(configPath) {
 
 /**
  * Root lint-staged function that is called from .bin
+ * @param {Function} logger
+ * @param {String} configPath
+ * @param {Boolean} shellMode Use execa’s shell mode to execute linter commands
+ * @param {Boolean} silentMode Use Listr’s silent renderer
+ * @param {Boolean} debugMode Enable debug mode
  */
-module.exports = function lintStaged(logger = console, configPath, debugMode) {
+module.exports = function lintStaged(
+  logger = console,
+  configPath,
+  shellMode = false,
+  silentMode = false,
+  debugMode = false
+) {
   debug('Loading config using `cosmiconfig`')
 
   return loadConfig(configPath)
@@ -66,7 +77,7 @@ module.exports = function lintStaged(logger = console, configPath, debugMode) {
         debug('Normalized config:\n%O', config)
       }
 
-      return runAll(config, debugMode)
+      return runAll(config, shellMode, silentMode, debugMode)
         .then(() => {
           debug('linters were executed successfully!')
           // No errors, exiting with 0
diff --git a/src/makeCmdTasks.js b/src/makeCmdTasks.js
index 2ff6809cf..f73cf5eac 100644
--- a/src/makeCmdTasks.js
+++ b/src/makeCmdTasks.js
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@ const debug = require('debug')('lint-staged:make-cmd-tasks')
  * Creates and returns an array of listr tasks which map to the given commands.
  *
  * @param {Array<string>|string} commands
+ * @param {Boolean} shell
  * @param {Array<string>} pathsToLint
  * @param {Object} [options]
  */
-module.exports = async function makeCmdTasks(commands, gitDir, pathsToLint) {
+module.exports = async function makeCmdTasks(commands, shell, gitDir, pathsToLint) {
   debug('Creating listr tasks for commands %o', commands)
 
   const lintersArray = Array.isArray(commands) ? commands : [commands]
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ module.exports = async function makeCmdTasks(commands, gitDir, pathsToLint) {
     title: linter,
     task: resolveTaskFn({
       linter,
+      shell,
       gitDir,
       pathsToLint
     })
diff --git a/src/resolveTaskFn.js b/src/resolveTaskFn.js
index 0a1bc37ae..fcb4890df 100644
--- a/src/resolveTaskFn.js
+++ b/src/resolveTaskFn.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const chalk = require('chalk')
 const dedent = require('dedent')
 const execa = require('execa')
 const symbols = require('log-symbols')
+const stringArgv = require('string-argv')
 
 const debug = require('debug')('lint-staged:task')
 
@@ -14,10 +15,11 @@ const debug = require('debug')('lint-staged:task')
  * @param {string} cmd
  * @return {Promise} child_process
  */
-const execLinter = (cmd, execaOptions = {}) => {
+const execLinter = (cmd, args, execaOptions = {}) => {
   debug('cmd:', cmd)
+  debug('args:', args)
   debug('execaOptions:', execaOptions)
-  return execa(cmd, execaOptions)
+  return execa(cmd, args, execaOptions)
 }
 
 const successMsg = linter => `${symbols.success} ${linter} passed!`
@@ -73,13 +75,12 @@ function makeErr(linter, result, context = {}) {
  *
  * @param {Object} options
  * @param {string} options.linter
+ * @param {Boolean} options.shellMode
  * @param {string} options.gitDir
  * @param {Array<string>} options.pathsToLint
  * @returns {function(): Promise<Array<string>>}
  */
-module.exports = function resolveTaskFn(options) {
-  const { gitDir, linter, pathsToLint } = options
-
+module.exports = function resolveTaskFn({ gitDir, linter, pathsToLint, shell = false }) {
   // If `linter` is a function, it should return a string when evaluated with `pathsToLint`.
   // Else, it's a already a string
   const fnLinter = typeof linter === 'function'
@@ -88,18 +89,19 @@ module.exports = function resolveTaskFn(options) {
   const linters = Array.isArray(linterString) ? linterString : [linterString]
 
   const tasks = linters.map(command => {
-    // If `linter` is a function, cmd already includes `pathsToLint`.
-    const cmdWithPaths = fnLinter ? command : `${command} ${pathsToLint.join(' ')}`
+    const [cmd, ...args] = stringArgv.parseArgsStringToArgv(command)
+    // If `linter` is a function, args already include `pathsToLint`.
+    const argsWithPaths = fnLinter ? args : args.concat(pathsToLint)
 
     // Only use gitDir as CWD if we are using the git binary
     // e.g `npm` should run tasks in the actual CWD
-    const execaOptions = { preferLocal: true, reject: false, shell: true }
+    const execaOptions = { preferLocal: true, reject: false, shell }
     if (/^git(\.exe)?/i.test(command) && gitDir !== process.cwd()) {
       execaOptions.cwd = gitDir
     }
 
     return ctx =>
-      execLinter(cmdWithPaths, execaOptions).then(result => {
+      execLinter(cmd, argsWithPaths, execaOptions).then(result => {
         if (result.failed || result.killed || result.signal != null) {
           throw makeErr(linter, result, ctx)
         }
diff --git a/src/runAll.js b/src/runAll.js
index 668153066..7978c18ce 100644
--- a/src/runAll.js
+++ b/src/runAll.js
@@ -24,9 +24,17 @@ const MAX_ARG_LENGTH =
 /**
  * Executes all tasks and either resolves or rejects the promise
  * @param config {Object}
+ * @param {Boolean} shellMode Use execa’s shell mode to execute linter commands
+ * @param {Boolean} silentMode Use Listr’s silent renderer
+ * @param {Boolean} debugMode Enable debug mode
  * @returns {Promise}
  */
-module.exports = async function runAll(config, debugMode) {
+module.exports = async function runAll(
+  config,
+  shellMode = false,
+  silentMode = false,
+  debugMode = false
+) {
   debug('Running all linter scripts')
 
   const gitDir = await resolveGitDir(config)
@@ -60,7 +68,7 @@ https://github.com/okonet/lint-staged#using-js-functions-to-customize-linter-com
   const tasks = (await generateTasks(config, gitDir, files)).map(task => ({
     title: `Running tasks for ${task.pattern}`,
     task: async () =>
-      new Listr(await makeCmdTasks(task.commands, gitDir, task.fileList), {
+      new Listr(await makeCmdTasks(task.commands, shellMode, gitDir, task.fileList), {
         // In sub-tasks we don't want to run concurrently
         // and we want to abort on errors
         dateFormat: false,
@@ -77,7 +85,7 @@ https://github.com/okonet/lint-staged#using-js-functions-to-customize-linter-com
 
   const listrOptions = {
     dateFormat: false,
-    renderer: debugMode ? 'verbose' : 'update'
+    renderer: (silentMode && 'silent') || (debugMode && 'verbose') || 'update'
   }
 
   // If all of the configured "linters" should be skipped
diff --git a/test/index.spec.js b/test/index.spec.js
index 65fe75674..0cebe25f0 100644
--- a/test/index.spec.js
+++ b/test/index.spec.js
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ describe('lintStaged', () => {
       '*': 'mytask'
     }
     mockCosmiconfigWith({ config })
-    await lintStaged(logger, undefined, true)
+    await lintStaged(logger, undefined, false, false, true)
     expect(logger.printHistory()).toMatchSnapshot()
   })
 
@@ -66,20 +66,32 @@ describe('lintStaged', () => {
 
   it('should load config file when specified', async () => {
     expect.assertions(1)
-    await lintStaged(logger, path.join(__dirname, '__mocks__', 'my-config.json'), true)
+    await lintStaged(
+      logger,
+      path.join(__dirname, '__mocks__', 'my-config.json'),
+      false,
+      false,
+      true
+    )
     expect(logger.printHistory()).toMatchSnapshot()
   })
 
   it('should parse function linter from js config', async () => {
     expect.assertions(1)
-    await lintStaged(logger, path.join(__dirname, '__mocks__', 'advanced-config.js'), true)
+    await lintStaged(
+      logger,
+      path.join(__dirname, '__mocks__', 'advanced-config.js'),
+      false,
+      false,
+      true
+    )
     expect(logger.printHistory()).toMatchSnapshot()
   })
 
   it('should load an npm config package when specified', async () => {
     expect.assertions(1)
     jest.mock('my-lint-staged-config')
-    await lintStaged(logger, 'my-lint-staged-config', true)
+    await lintStaged(logger, 'my-lint-staged-config', false, false, true)
     expect(logger.printHistory()).toMatchSnapshot()
   })
 
diff --git a/test/index2.spec.js b/test/index2.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ff61973e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/index2.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import Listr from 'listr'
+import path from 'path'
+
+// silence console from Jest output
+console.log = jest.fn(() => {})
+console.error = jest.fn(() => {})
+
+jest.mock('listr')
+
+// eslint-disable-next-line import/first
+import lintStaged from '../src/index'
+
+describe('lintStaged', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    Listr.mockClear()
+  })
+
+  it('should pass silent flag to Listr', async () => {
+    expect.assertions(1)
+    await lintStaged(
+      console,
+      path.join(__dirname, '__mocks__', 'my-config.json'),
+      false,
+      true,
+      false
+    )
+    expect(Listr.mock.calls[0][1]).toEqual({ dateFormat: false, renderer: 'silent' })
+  })
+
+  it('should pass debug flag to Listr', async () => {
+    expect.assertions(1)
+    await lintStaged(
+      console,
+      path.join(__dirname, '__mocks__', 'my-config.json'),
+      false,
+      false,
+      true
+    )
+    expect(Listr.mock.calls[0][1]).toEqual({ dateFormat: false, renderer: 'verbose' })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/test/makeCmdTasks.spec.js b/test/makeCmdTasks.spec.js
index dc33cf2f7..8dbdd756e 100644
--- a/test/makeCmdTasks.spec.js
+++ b/test/makeCmdTasks.spec.js
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ describe('makeCmdTasks', () => {
   })
 
   it('should return an array', async () => {
-    const array = await makeCmdTasks('test', gitDir, ['test.js'])
+    const array = await makeCmdTasks('test', false, gitDir, ['test.js'])
     expect(array).toBeInstanceOf(Array)
   })
 
   it('should work with a single command', async () => {
     expect.assertions(4)
-    const res = await makeCmdTasks('test', gitDir, ['test.js'])
+    const res = await makeCmdTasks('test', false, gitDir, ['test.js'])
     expect(res.length).toBe(1)
     const [linter] = res
     expect(linter.title).toBe('test')
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ describe('makeCmdTasks', () => {
 
   it('should work with multiple commands', async () => {
     expect.assertions(9)
-    const res = await makeCmdTasks(['test', 'test2'], gitDir, ['test.js'])
+    const res = await makeCmdTasks(['test', 'test2'], false, gitDir, ['test.js'])
     expect(res.length).toBe(2)
     const [linter1, linter2] = res
     expect(linter1.title).toBe('test')
@@ -37,11 +37,19 @@ describe('makeCmdTasks', () => {
     expect(taskPromise).toBeInstanceOf(Promise)
     await taskPromise
     expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('test test.js', { preferLocal: true, reject: false, shell: true })
+    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('test', ['test.js'], {
+      preferLocal: true,
+      reject: false,
+      shell: false
+    })
     taskPromise = linter2.task()
     expect(taskPromise).toBeInstanceOf(Promise)
     await taskPromise
     expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
-    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('test2 test.js', { preferLocal: true, reject: false, shell: true })
+    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('test2', ['test.js'], {
+      preferLocal: true,
+      reject: false,
+      shell: false
+    })
   })
 })
diff --git a/test/resolveTaskFn.spec.js b/test/resolveTaskFn.spec.js
index f3a4ed45d..fa972ac30 100644
--- a/test/resolveTaskFn.spec.js
+++ b/test/resolveTaskFn.spec.js
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ describe('resolveTaskFn', () => {
 
     await taskFn()
     expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('node --arg=true ./myscript.js test.js', {
+    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('node', ['--arg=true', './myscript.js', 'test.js'], {
       preferLocal: true,
       reject: false,
-      shell: true
+      shell: false
     })
   })
 
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ describe('resolveTaskFn', () => {
 
     await taskFn()
     expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('node --arg=true ./myscript.js test.js', {
+    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('node', ['--arg=true', './myscript.js', 'test.js'], {
       preferLocal: true,
       reject: false,
-      shell: true
+      shell: false
     })
   })
 
@@ -50,15 +50,15 @@ describe('resolveTaskFn', () => {
 
     await taskFn()
     expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
-    expect(execa).nthCalledWith(1, 'node --arg=true ./myscript.js foo.js', {
+    expect(execa).nthCalledWith(1, 'node', ['--arg=true', './myscript.js', 'foo.js'], {
       preferLocal: true,
       reject: false,
-      shell: true
+      shell: false
     })
-    expect(execa).nthCalledWith(2, 'node --arg=true ./myscript.js bar.js', {
+    expect(execa).nthCalledWith(2, 'node', ['--arg=true', './myscript.js', 'bar.js'], {
       preferLocal: true,
       reject: false,
-      shell: true
+      shell: false
     })
   })
 
@@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ describe('resolveTaskFn', () => {
 
     await taskFn()
     expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('git add test.js', {
+    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('git', ['add', 'test.js'], {
       cwd: '../',
       preferLocal: true,
       reject: false,
-      shell: true
+      shell: false
     })
   })
 
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ describe('resolveTaskFn', () => {
 
     await taskFn()
     expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('jest test.js', {
+    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('jest', ['test.js'], {
       preferLocal: true,
       reject: false,
-      shell: true
+      shell: false
     })
   })
 
@@ -167,4 +167,21 @@ Mock error"
       expect(context.hasErrors).toEqual(true)
     }
   })
+
+  it('should call execa with shell when configured so', async () => {
+    expect.assertions(2)
+    const taskFn = resolveTaskFn({
+      ...defaultOpts,
+      linter: 'node --arg=true ./myscript.js',
+      shell: true
+    })
+
+    await taskFn()
+    expect(execa).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(execa).lastCalledWith('node', ['--arg=true', './myscript.js', 'test.js'], {
+      preferLocal: true,
+      reject: false,
+      shell: true
+    })
+  })
 })
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 60fbb96b9..f8956f608 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -5196,6 +5196,11 @@ stealthy-require@^1.1.1:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/stealthy-require/-/stealthy-require-1.1.1.tgz#35b09875b4ff49f26a777e509b3090a3226bf24b"
   integrity sha1-NbCYdbT/SfJqd35QmzCQoyJr8ks=
 
+string-argv@^0.3.0:
+  version "0.3.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/string-argv/-/string-argv-0.3.0.tgz#0ea99e7257fea5e97a1bfcdfc19cf12d68e6ec6a"
+  integrity sha512-NGZHq3nkSXVtGZXTBjFru3MNfoZyIzN25T7BmvdgnSC0LCJczAGLLMQLyjywSIaAoqSemgLzBRHOsnrHbt60+Q==
+
 string-length@^2.0.0:
   version "2.0.0"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/string-length/-/string-length-2.0.0.tgz#d40dbb686a3ace960c1cffca562bf2c45f8363ed"