diff --git a/doc/api/child_process.md b/doc/api/child_process.md
index 94663c8085c7a7..051e5c3c0ec37a 100644
--- a/doc/api/child_process.md
+++ b/doc/api/child_process.md
@@ -1448,8 +1448,10 @@ instances of `ChildProcess`.
 added: v0.7.7
 -->
 
-* `code` {number} The exit code if the child process exited on its own.
-* `signal` {string} The signal by which the child process was terminated.
+* `code` {number} The exit code if the child process exited on its own, or
+  `null` if the child process terminated due to a signal.
+* `signal` {string} The signal by which the child process was terminated, or
+  `null` if the child process did not terminated due to a signal.
 
 The `'close'` event is emitted after a process has ended _and_ the stdio
 streams of a child process have been closed. This is distinct from the
@@ -1457,6 +1459,11 @@ streams of a child process have been closed. This is distinct from the
 streams. The `'close'` event will always emit after [`'exit'`][] was
 already emitted, or [`'error'`][] if the child process failed to spawn.
 
+If the process exited, `code` is the final exit code of the process, otherwise
+`null`. If the process terminated due to receipt of a signal, `signal` is the
+string name of the signal, otherwise `null`. One of the two will always be
+non-`null`.
+
 ```cjs
 const { spawn } = require('node:child_process');
 const ls = spawn('ls', ['-lh', '/usr']);
@@ -1526,8 +1533,10 @@ See also [`subprocess.kill()`][] and [`subprocess.send()`][].
 added: v0.1.90
 -->
 
-* `code` {number} The exit code if the child process exited on its own.
-* `signal` {string} The signal by which the child process was terminated.
+* `code` {number} The exit code if the child process exited on its own, or
+  `null` if the child process terminated due to a signal.
+* `signal` {string} The signal by which the child process was terminated, or
+  `null` if the child process did not terminated due to a signal.
 
 The `'exit'` event is emitted after the child process ends. If the process
 exited, `code` is the final exit code of the process, otherwise `null`. If the