diff --git a/libexec/bats-exec-test b/libexec/bats-exec-test
index 7613eac..f427dcb 100755
--- a/libexec/bats-exec-test
+++ b/libexec/bats-exec-test
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ BATS_OUT="${BATS_TMPNAME}.out"
 
 bats_preprocess_source() {
   BATS_TEST_SOURCE="${BATS_TMPNAME}.src"
-  cat "$BATS_TEST_FILENAME" | tr -d '\r' | bats-preprocess > "$BATS_TEST_SOURCE"
+  tr -d '\r' < "$BATS_TEST_FILENAME" | bats-preprocess > "$BATS_TEST_SOURCE"
   trap bats_cleanup_preprocessed_source err exit
   trap "bats_cleanup_preprocessed_source; exit 1" int
 }