diff --git a/rc/control/utilities.py b/rc/control/utilities.py
index e30e9a9d..52b5f32c 100755
--- a/rc/control/utilities.py
+++ b/rc/control/utilities.py
@@ -909,17 +909,8 @@ def record_directory_info(recorddir):
 
 
 def get_short_hostname():
-    hostname = (
-        Popen(
-            "hostname -s",
-            executable="/bin/bash",
-            shell=True,
-            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-            stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, encoding="UTF-8"
-        )
-        .stdout.readlines()[0]
-        .strip()
-    )
+    import socket
+    hostname = socket.gethostname().split('.', 1)[0]
     return hostname