diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/__init__.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/__init__.py
index 72d6092deb..e1282da45f 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/__init__.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/fetch2/__init__.py
@@ -1457,7 +1457,7 @@ class FetchMethod(object):
                 else:
                     cmd = 'rpm2cpio.sh %s | cpio -id' % (file)
             elif file.endswith('.deb') or file.endswith('.ipk'):
-                output = subprocess.check_output('ar -t %s' % file, preexec_fn=subprocess_setup, shell=True)
+                output = subprocess.check_output(['ar', '-t', file], preexec_fn=subprocess_setup)
                 datafile = None
                 if output:
                     for line in output.decode().splitlines():