diff --git a/general_utils b/general_utils
index 2cc0133..ae8dcfe 100755
--- a/general_utils
+++ b/general_utils
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/bin/bash
+#! /bin/bash -
 # set -x 
 
 source ./log_helpers
@@ -34,12 +34,13 @@ if [ "${general_utils_sourced:-1}" = "1" ]; then    # include only once
         local ps_pid=$!  # remember pid of process substitution
 
         local __result=""
+
         while read __tmp <&$fd; do
             if ! [ -z "$__tmp" ]; then
-                __result="${__result}$__tmp"
+                __result+=" $__tmp"
             fi
         done
-        
+
         exec {fd}>&-    # close fd (i.e. process substitution)
         wait $ps_pid    # wait for the subshell to finish
 
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ if [ "${general_utils_sourced:-1}" = "1" ]; then    # include only once
         printf '%s' "$__result"
         return $__result_code
     }
+    # exec_process_substitution 'opkg --noaction list'
 
     usage () {
         echo "Usage: $PROGRAM [--file config] [--?] [--help] [--version] [--dbg]"