diff --git a/lib/gen_robot_plug_in.py b/lib/gen_robot_plug_in.py
index cfcb660..a5ce323 100755
--- a/lib/gen_robot_plug_in.py
+++ b/lib/gen_robot_plug_in.py
@@ -36,16 +36,13 @@
     """
 
     cmd_buf = "validate_plug_ins.py \"" + plug_in_dir_paths + "\""
-    if int(quiet) != 1:
-        gp.print_issuing(cmd_buf)
-    rc, out_buf = commands.getstatusoutput(cmd_buf)
+    rc, out_buf = gc.shell_cmd(cmd_buf, print_output=0)
     if rc != 0:
-        message = gp.sprint_varx("rc", rc, 1) + out_buf
-        gp.printn(out_buf, 'STDERR')
         BuiltIn().fail(gp.sprint_error("Validate plug ins call failed.  See"
                                        + " stderr text for details.\n"))
 
-    plug_in_packages_list = out_buf.split("\n")
+    # plug_in_packages_list = out_buf.split("\n")
+    plug_in_packages_list = list(filter(None, out_buf.split("\n")))
     if len(plug_in_packages_list) == 1 and plug_in_packages_list[0] == "":
         return []