diff --git a/bin/pt-archiver b/bin/pt-archiver
index 9f5ed755..6e78dcc4 100755
--- a/bin/pt-archiver
+++ b/bin/pt-archiver
@@ -2980,8 +2980,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -3058,6 +3063,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-config-diff b/bin/pt-config-diff
index 5a8f7896..8483a298 100755
--- a/bin/pt-config-diff
+++ b/bin/pt-config-diff
@@ -1704,8 +1704,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -1782,6 +1787,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-deadlock-logger b/bin/pt-deadlock-logger
index 092fcac3..ca5a1889 100755
--- a/bin/pt-deadlock-logger
+++ b/bin/pt-deadlock-logger
@@ -2306,8 +2306,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2384,6 +2389,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-duplicate-key-checker b/bin/pt-duplicate-key-checker
index 1d3f9866..1709fd0e 100755
--- a/bin/pt-duplicate-key-checker
+++ b/bin/pt-duplicate-key-checker
@@ -2596,8 +2596,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2674,6 +2679,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-fifo-split b/bin/pt-fifo-split
index 1f33b3e9..c8df319f 100755
--- a/bin/pt-fifo-split
+++ b/bin/pt-fifo-split
@@ -1144,8 +1144,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -1222,6 +1227,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-find b/bin/pt-find
index b7d562b8..c2194cca 100755
--- a/bin/pt-find
+++ b/bin/pt-find
@@ -2070,8 +2070,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2148,6 +2153,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-fk-error-logger b/bin/pt-fk-error-logger
index 42a3719f..9262df22 100755
--- a/bin/pt-fk-error-logger
+++ b/bin/pt-fk-error-logger
@@ -1662,8 +1662,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -1740,6 +1745,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-heartbeat b/bin/pt-heartbeat
index c281e30c..f4c8ee20 100755
--- a/bin/pt-heartbeat
+++ b/bin/pt-heartbeat
@@ -2278,8 +2278,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2356,6 +2361,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-kill b/bin/pt-kill
index 8fecada9..93e29ef1 100755
--- a/bin/pt-kill
+++ b/bin/pt-kill
@@ -2000,8 +2000,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2078,6 +2083,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-log-player b/bin/pt-log-player
index 45906734..ab8e38e4 100755
--- a/bin/pt-log-player
+++ b/bin/pt-log-player
@@ -2477,8 +2477,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2555,6 +2560,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-online-schema-change b/bin/pt-online-schema-change
index 770260ea..3820e6de 100755
--- a/bin/pt-online-schema-change
+++ b/bin/pt-online-schema-change
@@ -2200,8 +2200,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2278,6 +2283,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-query-advisor b/bin/pt-query-advisor
index 770324b2..5291ce41 100755
--- a/bin/pt-query-advisor
+++ b/bin/pt-query-advisor
@@ -3177,8 +3177,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -3255,6 +3260,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-query-digest b/bin/pt-query-digest
index 2c3fe96e..6af0830c 100755
--- a/bin/pt-query-digest
+++ b/bin/pt-query-digest
@@ -8752,8 +8752,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -8830,6 +8835,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-show-grants b/bin/pt-show-grants
index c3420870..69a76f3e 100755
--- a/bin/pt-show-grants
+++ b/bin/pt-show-grants
@@ -1518,8 +1518,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -1596,6 +1601,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-slave-delay b/bin/pt-slave-delay
index 6d7921bd..1ec41047 100755
--- a/bin/pt-slave-delay
+++ b/bin/pt-slave-delay
@@ -1993,8 +1993,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2071,6 +2076,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-slave-find b/bin/pt-slave-find
index e6868b13..9536cb1f 100755
--- a/bin/pt-slave-find
+++ b/bin/pt-slave-find
@@ -2706,8 +2706,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2784,6 +2789,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-slave-restart b/bin/pt-slave-restart
index ee47ba94..796dd1e6 100755
--- a/bin/pt-slave-restart
+++ b/bin/pt-slave-restart
@@ -3042,8 +3042,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -3120,6 +3125,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-table-checksum b/bin/pt-table-checksum
index bad2d08e..b33cc455 100755
--- a/bin/pt-table-checksum
+++ b/bin/pt-table-checksum
@@ -6438,8 +6438,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -6516,6 +6521,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-table-sync b/bin/pt-table-sync
index 972fde5f..77b4bd73 100755
--- a/bin/pt-table-sync
+++ b/bin/pt-table-sync
@@ -7286,8 +7286,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -7364,6 +7369,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-table-usage b/bin/pt-table-usage
index 8646ae02..c1d1f5bb 100755
--- a/bin/pt-table-usage
+++ b/bin/pt-table-usage
@@ -4931,8 +4931,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -5009,6 +5014,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-trend b/bin/pt-trend
index 10f1946f..2151ce82 100755
--- a/bin/pt-trend
+++ b/bin/pt-trend
@@ -1148,8 +1148,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -1226,6 +1231,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-upgrade b/bin/pt-upgrade
index 42e8042e..157da959 100755
--- a/bin/pt-upgrade
+++ b/bin/pt-upgrade
@@ -4390,8 +4390,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -4468,6 +4473,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-variable-advisor b/bin/pt-variable-advisor
index a78295a9..5cf35c0c 100755
--- a/bin/pt-variable-advisor
+++ b/bin/pt-variable-advisor
@@ -2191,8 +2191,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2269,6 +2274,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/bin/pt-visual-explain b/bin/pt-visual-explain
index 817b0cab..8d7b451d 100755
--- a/bin/pt-visual-explain
+++ b/bin/pt-visual-explain
@@ -2192,8 +2192,13 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -2270,6 +2275,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/lib/Daemon.pm b/lib/Daemon.pm
index acc9e1fb..75acaf78 100644
--- a/lib/Daemon.pm
+++ b/lib/Daemon.pm
@@ -125,8 +125,15 @@ sub check_PID_file {
    PTDEBUG && _d('Checking PID file', $PID_file);
    if ( $PID_file && -f $PID_file ) {
       my $pid;
-      eval { chomp($pid = `cat $PID_file`); };
-      die "Cannot cat $PID_file: $OS_ERROR" if $EVAL_ERROR;
+      eval {
+         chomp($pid = (slurp_file($PID_file) || ''));
+      };
+      if ( $EVAL_ERROR ) {
+         # Be safe and die if we can't check that a process is
+         # or is not already running.
+         die "The PID file $PID_file already exists but it cannot be read: "
+            . $EVAL_ERROR;
+      }
       PTDEBUG && _d('PID file exists; it contains PID', $pid);
       if ( $pid ) {
          my $pid_is_alive = kill 0, $pid;
@@ -221,6 +228,13 @@ sub DESTROY {
    return;
 }
 
+sub slurp_file {
+   my ($file) = @_;
+   return unless $file;
+   open my $fh, "<", $file or die "Cannot open $file: $OS_ERROR";
+   return do { local $/; <$fh> };
+}
+
 sub _d {
    my ($package, undef, $line) = caller 0;
    @_ = map { (my $temp = $_) =~ s/\n/\n# /g; $temp; }
diff --git a/t/lib/Daemon.t b/t/lib/Daemon.t
index edecd297..1240a4cd 100644
--- a/t/lib/Daemon.t
+++ b/t/lib/Daemon.t
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ unlike(
 # ##########################################################################
 rm_tmp_files();
 SKIP: {
-   skip 'No /proc', 1 unless -d '/proc';
-   skip 'No fd in /proc', 1 unless -l "/proc/$PID/0" || -l "/proc/$PID/fd/0";
+   skip 'No /proc', 2 unless -d '/proc';
+   skip 'No fd in /proc', 2 unless -l "/proc/$PID/0" || -l "/proc/$PID/fd/0";
 
    system("$cmd 5 --daemonize --pid $pid_file --log $log_file");
    PerconaTest::wait_for_files($pid_file);
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ ok(
       'Dies if PID file already exists for non-daemon'
    );
 
-   `rm -rf /tmp/d2.pid`;
+   diag(`rm -rf /tmp/d2.pid >/dev/null`);
 }
 
 # #############################################################################
@@ -264,4 +264,3 @@ ok(
 # #############################################################################
 rm_tmp_files();
 done_testing;
-exit;