diff --git a/LCS/PyCommon/lcu_utils.py b/LCS/PyCommon/lcu_utils.py
index ae39ec0ef21e29e381e585d61c47adc940b0daed..e4e3abe0c7373142f9c9cf1ce1c30a51b25a9c37 100644
--- a/LCS/PyCommon/lcu_utils.py
+++ b/LCS/PyCommon/lcu_utils.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 # with the LOFAR software suite. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from lofar.common.ssh_utils import ssh_cmd_list
-from lofar.common.subprocess_utils import execute_in_parallel, wrap_composite_command
+from lofar.common.subprocess_utils import execute_in_parallel, wrap_composite_command, communicate_returning_strings
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 
 import os
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def get_current_stations(station_group='today', as_host_names=True):
     cmd = wrap_command_in_lcu_head_node_ssh_call(cmd)
     logger.debug('executing cmd: %s', ' '.join(cmd))
     proc = Popen(cmd, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
-    out, err = proc.communicate()
+    out, err = communicate_returning_strings(proc)
 
     if proc.returncode != 0:
         raise LCURuntimeError("Could not fetch stations.txt file. sdterr=%s" % (err, ))
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def get_stations_rcu_mode(stations=None):
 
     result = {}
     for station, proc in list(procs.items()):
-        out, err = proc.communicate()
+        out, err = communicate_returning_strings(proc)
 
         if proc.returncode != 0:
             logger.warning("Could not determine rcu mode for station %s. sdterr=%s" % (station, err))
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def get_station_cable_delays(stations=None):
         # wait for all fetching procs to finish...
         #TODO: add timeout?
         for station, proc in list(cable_delay_procs.items()):
-            out, err = proc.communicate()
+            out, err = communicate_returning_strings(proc)
             if proc.returncode != 0:
                 logger.warning("Could not fetch cable_delay file for station %s. stderr=%s", station, err)
 
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ def get_station_calibration_tables(stations=None, antenna_set_and_filter=None, t
         # wait for all fetching procs to finish...
         #TODO: add timeout?
         for station, proc in list(caltable_procs.items()):
-            out, err = proc.communicate()
+            out, err = communicate_returning_strings(proc)
             if proc.returncode != 0:
                 logger.warning("Could not fetch calibration table for station %s. stderr=%s", station, err)