diff --git a/package/base-files/files/lib/upgrade/common.sh b/package/base-files/files/lib/upgrade/common.sh
index 0f251993652..5eb7b23a830 100644
--- a/package/base-files/files/lib/upgrade/common.sh
+++ b/package/base-files/files/lib/upgrade/common.sh
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ get_image() { # <source> [ <command> ]
 		esac
 	fi
 
-	cat "$from" 2>/dev/null | $cmd
+	$cmd <"$from"
 }
 
 get_magic_word() {