diff --git a/lisp/simple.el b/lisp/simple.el
index e51bc132a6b..44f738f07e6 100644
--- a/lisp/simple.el
+++ b/lisp/simple.el
@@ -3844,7 +3844,7 @@ interactively, this is t."
   (with-output-to-string
     (with-current-buffer
       standard-output
-      (process-file shell-file-name nil t nil shell-command-switch command))))
+      (shell-command command t))))
 
 (defun process-file (program &optional infile buffer display &rest args)
   "Process files synchronously in a separate process.