diff --git a/alot/commands/thread.py b/alot/commands/thread.py
index 12b3c597c..c439d654d 100644
--- a/alot/commands/thread.py
+++ b/alot/commands/thread.py
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ def callback(out):
 
             await ui.apply_command(ExternalCommand(cmd,
                                                    stdin=mail,
-                                                   shell=True,
+                                                   shell=self.shell,
                                                    thread=self.background,
                                                    on_success=callback))