diff --git a/library/std/src/io/error.rs b/library/std/src/io/error.rs
index 51666c0a3c7f1..15611b86b2234 100644
--- a/library/std/src/io/error.rs
+++ b/library/std/src/io/error.rs
@@ -284,6 +284,45 @@ pub enum ErrorKind {
     #[stable(feature = "out_of_memory_error", since = "1.54.0")]
     OutOfMemory,
 
+    /// Subprocess failed.
+    ///
+    /// A subprocess (eg, run by a
+    /// [`Command`](crate::process::Command)) failed.
+    ///
+    /// Often an [`io::Error`](`crate::io::Error`) with this kind wraps an
+    /// [`ExitStatusError`](crate::process::ExitStatusError),
+    /// (perhaps via `?` and `Into`), in which case
+    /// [`io::Error::get_ref`](crate::io::Error::get_ref) or
+    /// [`std::error::Error::source`](crate::error::Error::source)
+    /// is the `ExitStatusError`,
+    /// allowing the subprocess's exit status to be obtained.
+    ///
+    /// (The exit code, exit status, or wait status is generally *not*
+    /// available via
+    /// [`io::Error::raw_os_error`](crate::io::Error::raw_os_error),
+    /// since process exit codes are not generally the same as OS
+    /// error codes..)
+    ///
+    /// # Example
+    /// ```
+    /// #![feature(exit_status_error)]
+    /// use std::process::{Command, ExitStatusError};
+    ///
+    /// fn system(shellcmd: &str) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+    ///     Command::new("sh").args(&["-c",shellcmd]).status()?.exit_ok()?;
+    ///     Ok(())
+    /// }
+    ///
+    /// # if cfg!(unix) {
+    /// let err = system("exit 23").unwrap_err();
+    /// let exit_error: &ExitStatusError = err.get_ref().unwrap().downcast_ref().unwrap();
+    /// assert_eq!(err.to_string(), "process exited unsuccessfully: exit status: 23");
+    /// assert_eq!(exit_error.code(), Some(23));
+    /// # }
+    /// ```
+    #[unstable(feature = "exit_status_error", issue = "84908")]
+    SubprocessFailed,
+
     // "Unusual" error kinds which do not correspond simply to (sets
     // of) OS error codes, should be added just above this comment.
     // `Other` and `Uncategorised` should remain at the end:
@@ -350,6 +389,7 @@ impl ErrorKind {
             ResourceBusy => "resource busy",
             StaleNetworkFileHandle => "stale network file handle",
             StorageFull => "no storage space",
+            SubprocessFailed => "subprocess failed",
             TimedOut => "timed out",
             TooManyLinks => "too many links",
             Uncategorized => "uncategorized error",
diff --git a/library/std/src/process.rs b/library/std/src/process.rs
index c9b21fcf9c6d2..48f4871424d21 100644
--- a/library/std/src/process.rs
+++ b/library/std/src/process.rs
@@ -1530,6 +1530,9 @@ impl crate::sealed::Sealed for ExitStatusError {}
 ///
 /// Produced by the [`.exit_ok`](ExitStatus::exit_ok) method on [`ExitStatus`].
 ///
+/// Implements [`Into<io::Error>`], producing an [`io::Error`]
+/// of kind [`Subprocessfailed`](io::ErrorKind::SubprocessFailed).
+///
 /// # Examples
 ///
 /// ```
@@ -1636,6 +1639,13 @@ impl fmt::Display for ExitStatusError {
 #[unstable(feature = "exit_status_error", issue = "84908")]
 impl crate::error::Error for ExitStatusError {}
 
+#[unstable(feature = "exit_status_error", issue = "84908")]
+impl From<ExitStatusError> for io::Error {
+    fn from(ese: ExitStatusError) -> io::Error {
+        io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::SubprocessFailed, ese)
+    }
+}
+
 /// This type represents the status code a process can return to its
 /// parent under normal termination.
 ///
diff --git a/library/std/src/process/tests.rs b/library/std/src/process/tests.rs
index bc71c150550a4..72186f8953f7c 100644
--- a/library/std/src/process/tests.rs
+++ b/library/std/src/process/tests.rs
@@ -129,7 +129,11 @@ fn test_process_status() {
 #[test]
 fn test_process_output_fail_to_start() {
     match Command::new("/no-binary-by-this-name-should-exist").output() {
-        Err(e) => assert_eq!(e.kind(), ErrorKind::NotFound),
+        Err(e) => {
+            assert_eq!(e.kind(), ErrorKind::NotFound);
+            #[cfg(unix)] // Feel free to adjust/disable if this varies on some platform
+            assert_eq!(e.to_string(), "No such file or directory (os error 2)");
+        }
         Ok(..) => panic!(),
     }
 }