How about something like this: 

:
:
:  much hand waving....
:
my $output="";
eval "
         $output=`my_command -v`;
     ";
if ($@){
    print "it broke!\n";
} else {
   : whatever...
}

[download]

disclaimer: completely untested and I don't know what's in "my_command".

In reply to Re: System command & warnings by blue_cowdawg
in thread System command & warnings by Anonymous Monk

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