diff --git a/lib/gitlab/git_ref_validator.rb b/lib/gitlab/git_ref_validator.rb
index 0fdd4dbe577..39d17def930 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/git_ref_validator.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/git_ref_validator.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ module Gitlab
     # Returns true for a valid reference name, false otherwise
     def validate(ref_name)
       Gitlab::Utils.system_silent(
-        %W(git check-ref-format refs/#{ref_name})) == 0
+        %W(git check-ref-format refs/#{ref_name}))
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/utils.rb b/lib/gitlab/utils.rb
index bc30364550a..bd184c27187 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/utils.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/utils.rb
@@ -5,10 +5,9 @@ module Gitlab
     # Run system command without outputting to stdout.
     #
     # @param  cmd [Array<String>]
-    # @return [Integer] exit status
+    # @return [Boolean]
     def system_silent(cmd)
-      IO.popen(cmd).close
-      $?.exitstatus
+      Popen::popen(cmd).last.zero?
     end
   end
 end