diff --git a/packages/api/src/utility/platformInfo.js b/packages/api/src/utility/platformInfo.js
index 77143ef1..393edbfa 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/utility/platformInfo.js
+++ b/packages/api/src/utility/platformInfo.js
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ const platformInfo = {
   environment: process.env.NODE_ENV,
   platform,
   runningInWebpack: !!process.env.WEBPACK_DEV_SERVER_URL,
-  allowShellConnection: !!process.env.SHELL_CONNECTION || !!isElectron(),
-  allowShellScripting: !!process.env.SHELL_SCRIPTING || !!isElectron(),
+  allowShellConnection: !processArgs.listenApiChild || !!process.env.SHELL_CONNECTION || !!isElectron(),
+  allowShellScripting: !processArgs.listenApiChild || !!process.env.SHELL_SCRIPTING || !!isElectron(),
   defaultKeyfile: path.join(os.homedir(), '.ssh/id_rsa'),
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/api/src/utility/processArgs.js b/packages/api/src/utility/processArgs.js
index d199237b..68514c79 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/utility/processArgs.js
+++ b/packages/api/src/utility/processArgs.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const isForkedApi = process.argv.includes('--is-forked-api');
 const pluginsDir = getNamedArg('--plugins-dir');
 const workspaceDir = getNamedArg('--workspace-dir');
 const listenApi = process.argv.includes('--listen-api');
+const listenApiChild = process.argv.includes('--listen-api-child') || listenApi;
 
 function getPassArgs() {
   const res = [];
@@ -21,6 +22,9 @@ function getPassArgs() {
   if (global['PLUGINS_DIR']) {
     res.push('--plugins-dir', global['PLUGINS_DIR']);
   }
+  if (listenApiChild) {
+    res.push('listen-api-child');
+  }
   return res;
 }
 
@@ -32,4 +36,5 @@ module.exports = {
   pluginsDir,
   workspaceDir,
   listenApi,
+  listenApiChild,
 };