I solved a similar problem by using the /dev/null approach and surrounding the ci command with "back-ticks" instead of using the "system" command.

As an aside: using '-q' will stop the query if RCSdetects no differences between what you're trying to check in and what's already checked in - it silently aborts the checkin.

If you want to force a checkin anyway, use '-f' instead.

Hope this is useful!