diff --git a/distribution/src/main/resources/bin/elasticsearch b/distribution/src/main/resources/bin/elasticsearch
index 0101a108d4b..b41304f70d0 100755
--- a/distribution/src/main/resources/bin/elasticsearch
+++ b/distribution/src/main/resources/bin/elasticsearch
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/bin/sh
+#!/bin/bash
 
 # CONTROLLING STARTUP:
 #
diff --git a/distribution/src/main/resources/bin/elasticsearch-plugin b/distribution/src/main/resources/bin/elasticsearch-plugin
index b1ba48d44f1..e609591bc80 100755
--- a/distribution/src/main/resources/bin/elasticsearch-plugin
+++ b/distribution/src/main/resources/bin/elasticsearch-plugin
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
+#!/bin/bash
 
 CDPATH=""
 SCRIPT="$0"