--- Python-2.6.2/Lib/subprocess.py.orig	2009-03-04 00:55:00.000000000 +0200
+++ Python-2.6.2/Lib/subprocess.py	2009-08-14 10:18:56.000000000 +0200
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@
                 args = list(args)
 
             if shell:
-                args = ["/bin/sh", "-c"] + args
+                args = ["/bin/sh", "-c"] + [" ".join(args)]
 
             if executable is None:
                 executable = args[0]
--- Python-2.6.2/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py.orig	2009-02-14 19:04:26.000000000 +0200
+++ Python-2.6.2/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py	2009-08-12 10:32:14.000000000 +0200
@@ -593,6 +593,15 @@
                                  env=newenv)
             self.assertEqual(p.stdout.read().strip(), "apple")
 
+        def test_shell_sequence_args(self):
+            # Run command through the shell (sequence) containing arguments
+            newenv = os.environ.copy()
+            newenv["FRUIT"] = "apple"
+            p = subprocess.Popen(["echo", "$FRUIT"], shell=1,
+                                 stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                                 env=newenv)
+            self.assertEqual(p.stdout.read().strip(), "apple")
+
         def test_shell_string(self):
             # Run command through the shell (string)
             newenv = os.environ.copy()
@@ -693,6 +702,16 @@
                                  env=newenv)
             self.assertNotEqual(p.stdout.read().find("physalis"), -1)
 
+        def test_shell_sequence_args(self):
+            # Run command through the shell (sequence)
+            newenv = os.environ.copy()
+            newenv["FRUIT"] = "physalis"
+            # this should invoke the variable-setting mode and not output anything
+            p = subprocess.Popen(["set", "FRUIT=silasyhp"], shell=1,
+                                 stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                                 env=newenv)
+            self.assertEqual(p.stdout.read().find("physalis"), -1)
+
         def test_shell_string(self):
             # Run command through the shell (string)
             newenv = os.environ.copy()