diff --git a/Lib/subprocess.py b/Lib/subprocess.py
--- a/Lib/subprocess.py
+++ b/Lib/subprocess.py
@@ -681,21 +681,15 @@
     >>> subprocess.getstatusoutput('/bin/junk')
     (256, 'sh: /bin/junk: not found')
     """
-    with os.popen('{ ' + cmd + '; } 2>&1', 'r') as pipe:
-        try:
-            text = pipe.read()
-            sts = pipe.close()
-        except:
-            process = pipe._proc
-            process.kill()
-            process.wait()
-            raise
-    if sts is None:
-        sts = 0
-    if text[-1:] == '\n':
-        text = text[:-1]
-    return sts, text
-
+    try:
+        data = check_output(cmd, shell=True, universal_newlines=True, stderr=STDOUT)
+        status = 0
+    except CalledProcessError as ex:
+        data = ex.output
+        status = ex.returncode
+    if data[-1:] == '\n':
+        data = data[:-1]
+    return status, data
 
 def getoutput(cmd):
     """Return output (stdout or stderr) of executing cmd in a shell.