diff --git a/git-send-email.perl b/git-send-email.perl
index fd8bfff3b2..70cad15ec4 100755
--- a/git-send-email.perl
+++ b/git-send-email.perl
@@ -1440,7 +1440,7 @@ sub recipients_cmd {
 
 	my $sanitized_sender = sanitize_address($sender);
 	my @addresses = ();
-	open my $fh, "$cmd \Q$file\E |"
+	open my $fh, "-|", "$cmd \Q$file\E"
 	    or die "($prefix) Could not execute '$cmd'";
 	while (my $address = <$fh>) {
 		$address =~ s/^\s*//g;