diff --git a/Lib/platform.py b/Lib/platform.py
index 8051041..109e9b6 100755
--- a/Lib/platform.py
+++ b/Lib/platform.py
@@ -986,21 +986,19 @@ def _syscmd_uname(option,default=''):
         return output
 
 def _syscmd_file(target,default=''):
+    """ 
+    Interface to the system's file command.
 
-    """ Interface to the system's file command.
-
-        The function uses the -b option of the file command to have it
-        ommit the filename in its output and if possible the -L option
-        to have the command follow symlinks. It returns default in
-        case the command should fail.
-
+    The function uses the -b option of the file command to have it ommit
+    the filename in its output. Follow the symlinks. It returns default in
+    case the command should fail.
     """
     if sys.platform in ('dos','win32','win16','os2'):
         # XXX Others too ?
         return default
     target = _follow_symlinks(target).replace('"', '\\"')
     try:
-        f = os.popen('file "%s" 2> %s' % (target, DEV_NULL))
+        f = os.popen('file -b "%s" 2> %s' % (target, DEV_NULL))
     except (AttributeError,os.error):
         return default
     output = f.read().strip()