diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb b/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
index 9e4dbc57bb..ddd38f3d79 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ class AbstractDownloadStrategy
 
   def safe_system(*args)
     if @shutup
-      quiet_system(*args) || raise(ErrorDuringExecution.new(args, status: $CHILD_STATUS))
+      return if quiet_system(*args)
+      raise(ErrorDuringExecution.new(args, status: $CHILD_STATUS))
     else
       super(*args)
     end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb b/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
index bea9b75aa7..6e04ea27b8 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/utils.rb
@@ -302,7 +302,8 @@ end
 
 # Kernel.system but with exceptions
 def safe_system(cmd, *args, **options)
-  Homebrew.system(cmd, *args, **options) || raise(ErrorDuringExecution.new([cmd, *args], status: $CHILD_STATUS))
+  return if Homebrew.system(cmd, *args, **options)
+  raise(ErrorDuringExecution.new([cmd, *args], status: $CHILD_STATUS))
 end
 
 # prints no output