diff --git a/fireball b/fireball
index 88248d6b001..a3b09f45d86 100644
--- a/fireball
+++ b/fireball
@@ -149,9 +149,11 @@ def command(data):
         return dict(failed=True, msg='internal error: cmd is required')
     if 'tmp_path' not in data:
         return dict(failed=True, msg='internal error: tmp_path is required')
+    if 'executable' not in data:
+        return dict(failed=True, msg='internal error: executable is required')
 
     log("executing: %s" % data['cmd'])
-    p = subprocess.Popen(data['cmd'], shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, close_fds=True)
+    p = subprocess.Popen(data['cmd'], executable=data['executable'], shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, close_fds=True)
     (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
     if stdout is None:
         stdout = ''
diff --git a/raw b/raw
index 6e5b760fa8e..96b495dd018 100644
--- a/raw
+++ b/raw
@@ -4,7 +4,16 @@ DOCUMENTATION = '''
 ---
 module: raw
 short_description: Executes a low-down and dirty SSH command
-options: {}
+options:
+  free_form:
+    description:
+      - the raw module takes a free form command to run
+    required: true
+  executable:
+    description:
+      - change the shell used to execute the command. Should be an absolute path to the executable.
+    required: false
+    version_added: "1.0"
 description: 
      - Executes a low-down and dirty SSH command, not going through the module
        subsystem. This is useful and should only be done in two cases. The