diff --git a/sake b/sake
index 3e1274d8cfb..65d9af3394a 100755
--- a/sake
+++ b/sake
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ Executes a SilverStripe command"
 	exit 1
 fi
 
-if ! [ -x "$(command -v which)" ]; then
+command -v which >/dev/null 2>&1
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
   echo "Error: sake requires the 'which' command to operate." >&2
   exit 1
 fi