diff --git a/plugins/misc.py b/plugins/misc.py
index da0924b..abd0b3c 100644
--- a/plugins/misc.py
+++ b/plugins/misc.py
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@ socket.setdefaulttimeout(10)  # global setting
 
 
 def get_version():
-    p = subprocess.Popen(['git', 'log', '--oneline'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
-    stdout, _ = p.communicate()
-    p.wait()
-
-    revnumber = len(stdout.splitlines())
-
-    shorthash = stdout.split(None, 1)[0]
+    try:
+        stdout = subprocess.check_output(['git', 'log', '--format=%h'])
+    except:
+        revnumber = 0
+        shorthash = '????'
+    else:
+        revs = stdout.splitlines()
+        revnumber = len(revs)
+        shorthash = revs[0]
 
     http.ua_skybot = 'Skybot/r%d %s (http://github.com/rmmh/skybot)' \
         % (revnumber, shorthash)