diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index 7f180c733..9404ce627 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ The complete solution for [node.js](http://nodejs.org) command-line interfaces,
     - [TypeScript](#typescript)
     - [Node options such as `--harmony`](#node-options-such-as---harmony)
     - [Node debugging](#node-debugging)
+    - [Override exit handling](#override-exit-handling)
   - [Examples](#examples)
   - [License](#license)
   - [Support](#support)
@@ -554,6 +555,24 @@ You can enable `--harmony` option in two ways:
 If you are using the node inspector for [debugging](https://nodejs.org/en/docs/guides/debugging-getting-started/) git-style executable (sub)commands using `node --inspect` et al,
 the inspector port is incremented by 1 for the spawned subcommand.
 
+### Override exit handling
+
+By default Commander calls `process.exit` when it detects errors, or after displaying the help or version. You can override
+this behaviour and optionally supply a callback. The default override throws a `CommanderError`.
+
+The override callback is passed a `CommanderError` with properties `exitCode` number, `code` string, and `message`. The default override behaviour is to throw the error, except for async handling of executable subcommand completion which carries on. The normal display of error messages or version or help
+is not affected by the override which is called after the display.
+
+``` js
+program.exitOverride();
+
+try {
+  program.parse(process.argv);
+} catch (err) {
+  // custom processing...
+}
+```
+
 ## Examples
 
 ```js
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 70c2d1494..ad5d82f4a 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -255,14 +255,14 @@ Command.prototype.parseExpectedArgs = function(args) {
 };
 
 /**
- * Register callback `fn` to use as replacement for calling process.exit.
+ * Register callback to use as replacement for calling process.exit.
  *
- * @param {Function} fn callback which will be passed a CommanderError
+ * @param {Function} [fn] optional callback which will be passed a CommanderError, defaults to throwing
  * @return {Command} for chaining
  * @api public
  */
 
-Command.prototype._exitOverride = function(fn) {
+Command.prototype.exitOverride = function(fn) {
   if (fn) {
     this._exitCallback = fn;
   } else {
diff --git a/tests/args.variadic.test.js b/tests/args.variadic.test.js
index cf011381c..97c8d8f4a 100644
--- a/tests/args.variadic.test.js
+++ b/tests/args.variadic.test.js
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
   test('when program variadic argument not last then error', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .arguments('<variadicArg...> [optionalArg]')
       .action(jest.fn);
 
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
   test('when command variadic argument not last then error', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .command('sub <variadicArg...> [optionalArg]')
       .action(jest.fn);
 
diff --git a/tests/command.allowUnknownOptions.test.js b/tests/command.allowUnknownOptions.test.js
index d6353d4bb..f86ae9f75 100644
--- a/tests/command.allowUnknownOptions.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.allowUnknownOptions.test.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
   test('when specify unknown program option then error', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .option('-p, --pepper', 'add pepper');
 
     expect(() => {
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
   test('when specify unknown program option and allowUnknownOption then no error', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .allowUnknownOption()
       .option('-p, --pepper', 'add pepper');
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
   test('when specify unknown command option then error', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .command('sub')
       .option('-p, --pepper', 'add pepper')
       .action(() => { });
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
   test('when specify unknown command option and allowUnknownOption then no error', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .command('sub')
       .allowUnknownOption()
       .option('-p, --pepper', 'add pepper')
diff --git a/tests/command.executableSubcommand.test.js b/tests/command.executableSubcommand.test.js
index f97529956..8c6076cb0 100644
--- a/tests/command.executableSubcommand.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.executableSubcommand.test.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ test('when no command missing then display help', () => {
   const writeSpy = jest.spyOn(process.stdout, 'write').mockImplementation(() => { });
   const program = new commander.Command();
   program
-    ._exitOverride((err) => { throw err; })
+    .exitOverride((err) => { throw err; })
     .command('install', 'install description');
   expect(() => {
     program.parse(['node', 'test']);
diff --git a/tests/command.exitOverride.test.js b/tests/command.exitOverride.test.js
index 0df6451e9..a69366bda 100644
--- a/tests/command.exitOverride.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.exitOverride.test.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
   test('when specify unknown program option then throw CommanderError', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride();
+      .exitOverride();
 
     let caughtErr;
     try {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
     const customError = new commander.CommanderError(123, 'custom-code', 'custom-message');
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride((_err) => {
+      .exitOverride((_err) => {
         throw customError;
       });
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
     const optionFlags = '-p, --pepper <type>';
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .option(optionFlags, 'add pepper');
 
     let caughtErr;
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
   test('when specify command without required argument then throw CommanderError', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .command('compress <arg-name>')
       .action(() => { });
 
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
   test('when specify --help then throw CommanderError', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride();
+      .exitOverride();
 
     let caughtErr;
     try {
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
   test('when executable subcommand and no command specified then throw CommanderError', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .command('compress', 'compress description');
 
     let caughtErr;
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
     const myVersion = '1.2.3';
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .version(myVersion);
 
     let caughtErr;
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
     // Note: this error is notified during parse, although could have been detected at declaration.
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .arguments('<myVariadicArg...> [optionalArg]')
       .action(jest.fn);
 
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
     const pm = path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures/pm');
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride((err) => {
+      .exitOverride((err) => {
         expectCommanderError(err, 0, 'commander.executeSubCommandAsync', '(close)');
         done();
       })
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ describe('.exitOverride and error details', () => {
     const pm = path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures/pm');
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride(exitCallback)
+      .exitOverride(exitCallback)
       .command('does-not-exist', 'fail');
 
     program.parse(['node', pm, 'does-not-exist']);
diff --git a/tests/command.help.test.js b/tests/command.help.test.js
index 6cc7d412f..b61fbc016 100644
--- a/tests/command.help.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.help.test.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ test('when call .help then exit', () => {
   const writeSpy = jest.spyOn(process.stdout, 'write').mockImplementation(() => { });
   const program = new commander.Command();
   program
-    ._exitOverride();
+    .exitOverride();
   expect(() => {
     program.help();
   }).toThrow('(outputHelp)');
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ test('when specify --help then exit', () => {
   const writeSpy = jest.spyOn(process.stdout, 'write').mockImplementation(() => { });
   const program = new commander.Command();
   program
-    ._exitOverride();
+    .exitOverride();
   expect(() => {
     program.parse(['node', 'test', '--help']);
   }).toThrow('(outputHelp)');
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ test('when call help(cb) then display cb output and exit', () => {
   const helpReplacement = 'reformatted help';
   const program = new commander.Command();
   program
-    ._exitOverride();
+    .exitOverride();
   expect(() => {
     program.help((helpInformation) => {
       return helpReplacement;
diff --git a/tests/command.helpOption.test.js b/tests/command.helpOption.test.js
index b99eaaec2..f8b96b677 100644
--- a/tests/command.helpOption.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.helpOption.test.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test('when helpOption has custom flags then custom flag invokes help', () => {
   const writeSpy = jest.spyOn(process.stdout, 'write').mockImplementation(() => { });
   const program = new commander.Command();
   program
-    ._exitOverride()
+    .exitOverride()
     .helpOption('--custom-help', 'custom help output');
   expect(() => {
     program.parse(['node', 'test', '--custom-help']);
diff --git a/tests/openIssues.test.js.skip b/tests/openIssues.test.js.skip
index 957ae142f..78c4dd14b 100644
--- a/tests/openIssues.test.js.skip
+++ b/tests/openIssues.test.js.skip
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ describe('open issues', () => {
   test('#1039: when unknown option then unknown option detected', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride();
+      .exitOverride();
     expect(() => {
       program.parse(['node', 'text', '--bug']);
     }).toThrow();
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ describe('open issues', () => {
   test('#1039: when unknown option and multiple arguments then unknown option detected', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride();
+      .exitOverride();
     expect(() => {
       program.parse(['node', 'text', '--bug', '0', '1', '2', '3']);
     }).toThrow();
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ describe('open issues', () => {
   test('#561: when specify argument and unknown option then error', () => {
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .option('-x, --x-flag', 'A flag')
       .arguments('<file>');
 
diff --git a/tests/options.version.test.js b/tests/options.version.test.js
index f0f92bdf2..d636bfdf4 100644
--- a/tests/options.version.test.js
+++ b/tests/options.version.test.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 const commander = require('../');
 
-// Test .version. Using _exitOverride to check behaviour (instead of mocking process.exit).
+// Test .version. Using exitOverride to check behaviour (instead of mocking process.exit).
 
 describe('.version', () => {
   // Optional. Suppress normal output to keep test output clean.
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
     const myVersion = '1.2.3';
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .version(myVersion);
 
     expect(() => {
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
     const myVersion = '1.2.3';
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .version(myVersion);
 
     expect(() => {
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
     const myVersion = '1.2.3';
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .version(myVersion, '-r, --revision');
 
     expect(() => {
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
     const myVersion = '1.2.3';
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .version(myVersion, '-r, --revision');
 
     expect(() => {
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ describe('.version', () => {
     const myVersion = '1.2.3';
     const program = new commander.Command();
     program
-      ._exitOverride()
+      .exitOverride()
       .version(myVersion)
       .command('version')
       .action(() => {});
diff --git a/typings/commander-tests.ts b/typings/commander-tests.ts
index 94353c40e..9b6f55147 100644
--- a/typings/commander-tests.ts
+++ b/typings/commander-tests.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ interface ExtendedOptions extends program.CommandOptions {
 
 const commandInstance = new program.Command('-f');
 const optionsInstance = new program.Option('-f');
+const errorInstance = new program.CommanderError(1, 'code', 'message');
 
 const name = program.name();
 
@@ -99,6 +100,24 @@ program
     .command("name1", "description")
     .command("name2", "description", { isDefault:true })
 
+program
+    .exitOverride();
+
+program.exitOverride((err):never => {
+  console.log(err.code);
+  console.log(err.message);
+  console.log(err.nestedError);
+  return process.exit(err.exitCode);
+});
+
+program.exitOverride((err):void => {
+  if (err.code !== 'commander.executeSubCommandAsync') {
+    throw err;
+  } else {
+    // Async callback from spawn events, not useful to throw.
+  }
+});
+
 program.parse(process.argv);
 
 console.log('stuff');
diff --git a/typings/index.d.ts b/typings/index.d.ts
index b2fd9880e..2d94eb14e 100644
--- a/typings/index.d.ts
+++ b/typings/index.d.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,15 @@
 
 declare namespace local {
 
+  class CommanderError extends Error {
+    code: string;
+    exitCode: number;
+    message: string;
+    nestedError?: string;
+
+    constructor(exitCode: number, code: string, message: string);
+  }
+
   class Option {
     flags: string;
     required: boolean;
@@ -26,7 +35,7 @@ declare namespace local {
   }
 
   class Command extends NodeJS.EventEmitter {
-    [key: string]: any;
+    [key: string]: any; // options as properties
 
     args: string[];
 
@@ -98,14 +107,19 @@ declare namespace local {
     arguments(desc: string): Command;
 
     /**
-     * Parse expected `args`.
+    * Parse expected `args`.
      *
      * For example `["[type]"]` becomes `[{ required: false, name: 'type' }]`.
      *
      * @param {string[]} args
      * @returns {Command} for chaining
      */
-    parseExpectedArgs(args: string[]): Command;
+     parseExpectedArgs(args: string[]): Command;
+
+    /**
+     * Register callback to use as replacement for calling process.exit.
+     */
+    exitOverride(callback?: (err: CommanderError) => never|void): Command;
 
     /**
      * Register callback `fn` for the command.
@@ -292,7 +306,8 @@ declare namespace commander {
         Option: typeof local.Option;
         CommandOptions: CommandOptions;
         ParseOptionsResult: ParseOptionsResult;
-    }
+        CommanderError : typeof local.CommanderError;
+      }
 
 }