diff --git a/mininet/term.py b/mininet/term.py
index 8d838a4..69a3efe 100644
--- a/mininet/term.py
+++ b/mininet/term.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def tunnelX11( node, display=None):
                 "EXEC:'mnexec -a 1 socat STDIO %s'" % connection ]
     return 'localhost:' + screen, node.popen( cmd )
 
-def makeTerm( node, title='Node', term='xterm', display=None ):
+def makeTerm( node, title='Node', term='xterm', display=None, cmd='bash'):
     """Create an X11 tunnel to the node and start up a terminal.
        node: Node object
        title: base title
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def makeTerm( node, title='Node', term='xterm', display=None ):
     display, tunnel = tunnelX11( node, display )
     if display is None:
         return []
-    term = node.popen( cmds[ term ] + [ display, '-e', 'env TERM=ansi bash'] )
+    term = node.popen( cmds[ term ] + [ display, '-e', 'env TERM=ansi %s' % cmd ] )
     return [ tunnel, term ] if tunnel else [ term ]
 
 def runX11( node, cmd ):