diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/base.py b/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
index 6a3bebf0..120c53ca 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
@@ -579,7 +579,6 @@ class CoreNode(CoreNodeBase):
         :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
         """
         if self.server is None:
-            logging.info("node(%s) cmd: %s", self.name, args)
             return self.client.check_cmd(args, wait=wait)
         else:
             args = self.client._cmd_args() + args
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/client.py b/daemon/core/nodes/client.py
index 3b0b2843..13072c05 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/client.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/client.py
@@ -4,12 +4,9 @@ over a control channel to the vnoded process running in a network namespace.
 The control channel can be accessed via calls using the vcmd shell.
 """
 
-import logging
 import os
-from subprocess import PIPE, Popen
 
 from core import constants, utils
-from core.errors import CoreCommandError
 
 
 class VnodeClient(object):
@@ -67,31 +64,10 @@ class VnodeClient(object):
         :rtype: str
         :raises core.CoreCommandError: when there is a non-zero exit status
         """
-        p, stdin, stdout, stderr = self.popen(args)
-        stdin.close()
-        output = stdout.read() + stderr.read()
-        output = output.decode("utf-8").strip()
-        stdout.close()
-        stderr.close()
-        status = p.wait()
-        if wait and status != 0:
-            raise CoreCommandError(status, args, output)
-        return output
-
-    def popen(self, args):
-        """
-        Execute a popen command against the node.
-
-        :param list[str]|str args: command arguments
-        :return: popen object, stdin, stdout, and stderr
-        :rtype: tuple
-        """
         self._verify_connection()
         args = utils.split_args(args)
-        cmd = self._cmd_args() + args
-        logging.debug("popen: %s", cmd)
-        p = Popen(cmd, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, stdin=PIPE)
-        return p, p.stdin, p.stdout, p.stderr
+        args = self._cmd_args() + args
+        return utils.check_cmd(args, wait=wait)
 
     def icmd(self, args):
         """
diff --git a/daemon/core/utils.py b/daemon/core/utils.py
index df59f9ea..003c7134 100644
--- a/daemon/core/utils.py
+++ b/daemon/core/utils.py
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def check_cmd(args, env=None, cwd=None, wait=True):
         execute is not found
     """
     args = split_args(args)
-    logging.info("command: %s", args)
+    logging.info("command cwd(%s) wait(%s): %s", cwd, wait, args)
     try:
         p = Popen(args, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, env=env, cwd=cwd)
         if wait:
diff --git a/daemon/tests/test_core.py b/daemon/tests/test_core.py
index 7432ee58..4360ba06 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/test_core.py
@@ -108,13 +108,9 @@ class TestCore:
 
         # check various command using vcmd module
         command = ["ls"]
-        p, stdin, stdout, stderr = client.popen(command)
-        assert not p.wait()
         assert not client.icmd(command)
 
         # check various command using command line
-        p, stdin, stdout, stderr = client.popen(command)
-        assert not p.wait()
         assert not client.icmd(command)
 
         # check module methods