I have the same problem with perl 5.10.1 under linux, but not with the original code, that works:

CMD        : >>echddo 'arghh'<<
RETURN_CODE: >>32512<<
CMD_RESULT : >>sh: echddo: command not found
<<
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However, I want to trap an error from a simple command, but a bad one. For example, a misspelled command:

my $cmd = "hostnam";

Here I can't trap the error:

CMD        : >>hostnam<<
RETURN_CODE: >>-1<<
CMD_RESULT : >><<
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The odd thing is that if I redirect STDOUT/STDERR to a file instead, the error is redirected as expected.

`$cmd 1>./tmp 2>&1`;
my $cmd_rc = $?;
my $cmd_result = `cat ./t`;
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CMD        : >>hostnam<<
RETURN_CODE: >>32512<<
CMD_RESULT : >>sh: hostnam: command not found
<<
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Is there a better way to get the expected behavior without resorting to a file?