diff --git a/plugins/shell.py b/plugins/shell.py
index 2931dc2..b6f5184 100644
--- a/plugins/shell.py
+++ b/plugins/shell.py
@@ -22,15 +22,21 @@ class Shell(dotbot.Plugin):
         with open(os.devnull, 'w') as devnull:
             for item in data:
                 stdin = stdout = stderr = devnull
+                if defaults.get('stdin', False) == True:
+                    stdin = None
+                if defaults.get('stdout', False) == True:
+                    stdout = None
+                if defaults.get('stderr', False) == True:
+                    stderr = None
                 if isinstance(item, dict):
                     cmd = item['command']
                     msg = item.get('description', None)
-                    if item.get('stdin', defaults.get('stdin', False)) is True:
-                        stdin = None
-                    if item.get('stdout', defaults.get('stdout', False)) is True:
-                        stdout = None
-                    if item.get('stderr', defaults.get('stderr', False)) is True:
-                        stderr = None
+                    if 'stdin' in item:
+                        stdin = None if item['stdin'] == True else devnull
+                    if 'stdout' in item:
+                        stdout = None if item['stdout'] == True else devnull
+                    if 'stderr' in item:
+                        stderr = None if item['stderr'] == True else devnull
                 elif isinstance(item, list):
                     cmd = item[0]
                     msg = item[1] if len(item) > 1 else None
diff --git a/test/tests/shell-compact-stdout.bash b/test/tests/shell-compact-stdout.bash
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc55d52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/tests/shell-compact-stdout.bash
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+test_description='shell command stdout works in compact form'
+. '../test-lib.bash'
+
+test_expect_success 'run' '
+(run_dotbot | grep "^apple") <<EOF
+- defaults:
+    shell:
+      stdout: true
+- shell:
+  - echo apple
+EOF
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'run 2' '
+(run_dotbot | grep "^apple") <<EOF
+- defaults:
+    shell:
+      stdout: true
+- shell:
+  - [echo apple, "echoing message"]
+EOF
+'
diff --git a/test/tests/shell-override-default.bash b/test/tests/shell-override-default.bash
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ca6264
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/tests/shell-override-default.bash
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+test_description='shell command can override default'
+. '../test-lib.bash'
+
+test_expect_success 'run' '
+(run_dotbot | (! grep "^apple")) <<EOF
+- defaults:
+    shell:
+      stdout: true
+- shell:
+  -
+    command: echo apple
+    stdout: false
+EOF
+'