diff --git a/Zend/tests/bug40236.phpt b/Zend/tests/bug40236.phpt
index 7ed298c1eed66..5fb3fddc573db 100644
--- a/Zend/tests/bug40236.phpt
+++ b/Zend/tests/bug40236.phpt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ if (extension_loaded("readline")) die("skip Test doesn't support readline");
 <?php
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 $cmd = "$php -n -d memory_limit=4M -a \"".__DIR__."\"/bug40236.inc";
-echo `$cmd`;
+echo shell_exec($cmd);
 ?>
 --EXPECT--
 Interactive shell (-a) requires the readline extension.
diff --git a/Zend/tests/bug55509.phpt b/Zend/tests/bug55509.phpt
index b45150a4979ef..942df09bc0f91 100644
--- a/Zend/tests/bug55509.phpt
+++ b/Zend/tests/bug55509.phpt
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ if (PHP_OS == 'Linux') {
   }
 }
 elseif (PHP_OS == 'FreeBSD') {
-  $lines = explode("\n",`sysctl -a`);
+  $lines = explode("\n", shell_exec("sysctl -a"));
   $infos = array();
   foreach ($lines as $line) {
     if (!$line){
diff --git a/Zend/tests/bug64677.phpt b/Zend/tests/bug64677.phpt
index c3b168bd83b51..4995602e00124 100644
--- a/Zend/tests/bug64677.phpt
+++ b/Zend/tests/bug64677.phpt
@@ -17,5 +17,12 @@ function show_outputa($prepend, $output) {
 show_outputa('Files: ', `cd .`); // this works as expected
 
 ?>
---EXPECT--
+--EXPECTF--
+Deprecated: The backtick (`) operator is deprecated, use shell_exec() instead in %s on line %d
+
+Deprecated: The backtick (`) operator is deprecated, use shell_exec() instead in %s on line %d
+
+Deprecated: The backtick (`) operator is deprecated, use shell_exec() instead in %s on line %d
+
+Deprecated: The backtick (`) operator is deprecated, use shell_exec() instead in %s on line %d
 Okey
diff --git a/Zend/zend_compile.c b/Zend/zend_compile.c
index eb2286b932959..6f72040d43e48 100644
--- a/Zend/zend_compile.c
+++ b/Zend/zend_compile.c
@@ -10836,6 +10836,8 @@ static void zend_compile_shell_exec(znode *result, zend_ast *ast) /* {{{ */
 	zval fn_name;
 	zend_ast *name_ast, *args_ast, *call_ast;
 
+	zend_error(E_DEPRECATED, "The backtick (`) operator is deprecated, use shell_exec() instead");
+
 	ZVAL_STRING(&fn_name, "shell_exec");
 	name_ast = zend_ast_create_zval(&fn_name);
 	args_ast = zend_ast_create_list(1, ZEND_AST_ARG_LIST, expr_ast);
diff --git a/ext/opcache/tests/revalidate_path_01.phpt b/ext/opcache/tests/revalidate_path_01.phpt
index ff87e73b55441..c8cd1ea493a63 100644
--- a/ext/opcache/tests/revalidate_path_01.phpt
+++ b/ext/opcache/tests/revalidate_path_01.phpt
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
     @rmdir($link);
     $ln = str_replace('/', '\\', $link);
     $d1 = realpath($dir1);
-    `mklink /j $ln $d1`;
+    shell_exec("mklink /j $ln $d1");
 } else {
     @unlink($link);
     @symlink($dir1, $link);
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
     @rmdir($link);
     $ln = str_replace('/', '\\', $link);
     $d2 = realpath($dir2);
-    `mklink /j $ln $d2`;
+    shell_exec("mklink /j $ln $d2");
 } else {
     @unlink($link);
     @symlink($dir2, $link);
diff --git a/ext/phar/phar/pharcommand.inc b/ext/phar/phar/pharcommand.inc
index fee6c069ab085..7d35335a29470 100644
--- a/ext/phar/phar/pharcommand.inc
+++ b/ext/phar/phar/pharcommand.inc
@@ -225,13 +225,13 @@ class PharCommand extends CLICommand
                 }
             }
             if ($pear) {
-                $apiver = (string) `pear -q info PHP_Archive 2>/dev/null|grep 'API Version'`;
+                $apiver = (string) shell_exec("pear -q info PHP_Archive 2>/dev/null|grep 'API Version'");
                 $apiver = trim(substr($apiver, strlen('API Version')));
             }
             if ($apiver) {
                 self::notice("PEAR package PHP_Archive: API Version: $apiver.\n");
-                $files  = explode("\n", (string) `pear list-files PHP_Archive`);
-                $phpdir = (string) `pear config-get php_dir 2>/dev/null`;
+                $files  = explode("\n", (string) shell_exec("pear list-files PHP_Archive"));
+                $phpdir = (string) shell_exec("pear config-get php_dir 2>/dev/null");
                 $phpdir = trim($phpdir);
                 self::notice("PEAR package PHP_Archive: $phpdir.\n");
                 if (is_dir($phpdir)) {
diff --git a/ext/session/tests/session_regenerate_id_cookie.phpt b/ext/session/tests/session_regenerate_id_cookie.phpt
index f1dc0727205d2..6516ad7061d10 100644
--- a/ext/session/tests/session_regenerate_id_cookie.phpt
+++ b/ext/session/tests/session_regenerate_id_cookie.phpt
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ ob_end_flush();
 ?>');
 
 $extra_arguments = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXTRA_ARGS');
-var_dump(`$php $extra_arguments -d session.name=PHPSESSID $file`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php $extra_arguments -d session.name=PHPSESSID $file"));
 
 unlink($file);
 
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/dir/bug73877.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/dir/bug73877.phpt
index ceb272ea6527d..e538bed0d8908 100644
--- a/ext/standard/tests/dir/bug73877.phpt
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/dir/bug73877.phpt
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ $junk0 = $base . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . "Серёжка2";
 mkdir($base);
 mkdir($dir0);
 mkdir($dir1);
-`mklink /J $junk0 $dir0`;
+shell_exec("mklink /J $junk0 $dir0");
 
 var_dump(
     readlink($dir0),
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/file/mkdir-002.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/file/mkdir-002.phpt
index f4a42a7d61982..d48b19e645bad 100644
--- a/ext/standard/tests/file/mkdir-002.phpt
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/file/mkdir-002.phpt
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 
 var_dump(mkdir("mkdir-002", 0777));
 var_dump(mkdir("mkdir-002/subdir", 0777));
-var_dump(`ls -l mkdir-002`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("ls -l mkdir-002"));
 var_dump(rmdir("mkdir-002/subdir"));
 var_dump(rmdir("mkdir-002"));
 
 var_dump(mkdir("./mkdir-002", 0777));
 var_dump(mkdir("./mkdir-002/subdir", 0777));
-var_dump(`ls -l ./mkdir-002`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("ls -l ./mkdir-002"));
 var_dump(rmdir("./mkdir-002/subdir"));
 var_dump(rmdir("./mkdir-002"));
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ var_dump(mkdir(__DIR__."/mkdir-002", 0777));
 var_dump(mkdir(__DIR__."/mkdir-002/subdir", 0777));
 $dirname = __DIR__."/mkdir-002";
 $dirname_escaped = escapeshellarg($dirname);
-var_dump(`ls -l $dirname_escaped`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("ls -l $dirname_escaped"));
 var_dump(rmdir(__DIR__."/mkdir-002/subdir"));
 var_dump(rmdir(__DIR__."/mkdir-002"));
 
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/001.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/001.phpt
index 0527993e8c164..c990a77efaee1 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/001.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/001.phpt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ include "include.inc";
 $php = get_cgi_path();
 reset_env_vars();
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -v`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -v"));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/002.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/002.phpt
index b28c8656598cf..374a427cdce94 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/002.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/002.phpt
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ $file = __DIR__."/002.test.php";
 
 file_put_contents($file, '<?php var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time")); ?>');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -d max_execution_time=111 $file`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -d max_execution_time=500 $file`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -d max_execution_time=500 -d max_execution_time=555 $file`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -d max_execution_time=111 $file"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -d max_execution_time=500 $file"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -d max_execution_time=500 -d max_execution_time=555 $file"));
 
 file_put_contents($file, '<?php var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time")); var_dump(ini_get("upload_tmp_dir")); ?>');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -d upload_tmp_dir=/test/path -d max_execution_time=555 $file`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -d upload_tmp_dir=/test/path -d max_execution_time=555 $file"));
 
 unlink($file);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/003.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/003.phpt
index ac3f6aa8e6386..81d46e868b3d9 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/003.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/003.phpt
@@ -37,9 +37,15 @@ class test { /* {{{ */
 
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -w "$filename"`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -w "wrong"`);
-var_dump(`echo "<?php /* comment */ class test {\n // comment \n function foo() {} } ?>" | $php -n -w`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -w "$filename"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -w "wrong"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+echo "<?php /* comment */ class test {\n // comment \n function foo() {} } ?>" | $php -n -w
+SHELL));
 
 @unlink($filename);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/004.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/004.phpt
index 1de856e346725..fddc5ee80edb5 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/004.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/004.phpt
@@ -27,11 +27,17 @@ var_dump(test::$pri);
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
 if (defined("PHP_WINDOWS_VERSION_MAJOR")) {
-    var_dump(`$php -n -f "$filename"`);
+    var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+    $php -n -f "$filename"
+    SHELL));
 } else {
-    var_dump(`$php -n -f "$filename" 2>/dev/null`);
+    var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+    $php -n -f "$filename" 2>/dev/null
+    SHELL));
 }
-var_dump(`$php -n -f "wrong"`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -f "wrong"
+SHELL));
 
 @unlink($filename);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/005.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/005.phpt
index 4bb27279df123..510c96907e911 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/005.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/005.phpt
@@ -10,8 +10,12 @@ include "include.inc";
 $php = get_cgi_path();
 reset_env_vars();
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -a -f "wrong"`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -f "wrong" -a`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -a -f "wrong"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -f "wrong" -a
+SHELL));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/006.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/006.phpt
index 479d4a9441f26..840dd4329773f 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/006.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/006.phpt
@@ -29,8 +29,12 @@ echo test::$var;
 
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
-var_dump(`"$php" -n -l "$filename"`);
-var_dump(`"$php" -n -l some.unknown`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+"$php" -n -l "$filename"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+"$php" -n -l some.unknown
+SHELL));
 
 $code = '
 <?php
@@ -45,9 +49,13 @@ class test
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
 if (defined("PHP_WINDOWS_VERSION_MAJOR")) {
-    var_dump(`"$php" -n -l "$filename"`);
+    var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+    "$php" -n -l "$filename"
+    SHELL));
 } else {
-    var_dump(`"$php" -n -l "$filename" 2>/dev/null`);
+    var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+    "$php" -n -l "$filename" 2>/dev/null
+    SHELL));
 }
 
 @unlink($filename);
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/007.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/007.phpt
index 96062486e01ca..54fd79d0faa63 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/007.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/007.phpt
@@ -9,8 +9,12 @@ include "include.inc";
 $php = get_cgi_path();
 reset_env_vars();
 
-var_dump(`"$php" -n -f some.php -f some.php`);
-var_dump(`"$php" -n -s -w -l`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+"$php" -n -f some.php -f some.php
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+"$php" -n -s -w -l
+SHELL));
 
 ?>
 --EXPECT--
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/008.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/008.phpt
index 5ba21028b3327..b5a813effcdba 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/008.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/008.phpt
@@ -30,8 +30,12 @@ $o = new test;
 
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
-var_dump(`"$php" -n -s "$filename"`);
-var_dump(`"$php" -n -s "unknown"`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+"$php" -n -s "$filename"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+"$php" -n -s "unknown"
+SHELL));
 
 @unlink($filename);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/009.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/009.phpt
index c8e9ae1af1242..5e30252f79e76 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/009.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/009.phpt
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ putenv("TRANSLATED_PATH=".$f."/x");
 putenv("SCRIPT_FILENAME=".$f."/x");
 file_put_contents($f, '<?php var_dump($_SERVER["TRANSLATED_PATH"]); ?>');
 
-echo (`$php -n $f`);
+echo shell_exec("$php -n $f");
 
 echo "Done\n";
 
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/010.phpt b/sapi/cgi/tests/010.phpt
index 67e1a69e26e79..2f5d9a1356d3e 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/010.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/010.phpt
@@ -19,19 +19,19 @@ header("HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden");
 header("Status: 403 Also Forbidden");
 ?>');
 
-echo (`$php -n $f`);
+echo shell_exec("$php -n $f");
 
 file_put_contents($f, '<?php
 header("HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden");
 ?>');
 
-echo (`$php -n $f`);
+echo shell_exec("$php -n $f");
 
 file_put_contents($f, '<?php
 header("Status: 403 Also Forbidden");
 ?>');
 
-echo (`$php -n $f`);
+echo shell_exec("$php -n $f");
 
 echo "Done\n";
 
diff --git a/sapi/cgi/tests/include.inc b/sapi/cgi/tests/include.inc
index d155edf4ba208..7d38acca8e8dc 100644
--- a/sapi/cgi/tests/include.inc
+++ b/sapi/cgi/tests/include.inc
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ function get_cgi_path() /* {{{ */
     $cgi = false;
 
     if (file_exists($php) && is_executable($php)) {
-        $version = `$php_escaped -n -v`;
+        $version = shell_exec("$php_escaped -n -v");
         if (strstr($version, "(cli)")) {
             /* that's cli */
             $cli = true;
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/001.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/001.phpt
index fc1ae71fa134a..bb85ad4343577 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/001.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/001.phpt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ version string
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -v`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -v"));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/002-unix.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/002-unix.phpt
index 40e077bf984a8..77a8ee0a7c26a 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/002-unix.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/002-unix.phpt
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -r 'var_dump("hello");'`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r 'var_dump("hello");'
+SHELL));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/002.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/002.phpt
index 5c6424f5964cc..81f4f9e33331d 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/002.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/002.phpt
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ include "skipif.inc";
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "var_dump('hello');"`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "var_dump('hello');"
+SHELL));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/003-2.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/003-2.phpt
index 88a556b81f503..be1d9d040b506 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/003-2.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/003-2.phpt
@@ -12,8 +12,12 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -nd max_execution_time=111 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'`);
-var_dump(`$php -nd max_execution_time=500 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -nd max_execution_time=111 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -nd max_execution_time=500 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'
+SHELL));
 
 ?>
 --EXPECT--
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/003.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/003.phpt
index 20bf61a247bf9..060d831fe767f 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/003.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/003.phpt
@@ -12,10 +12,18 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -d max_execution_time=111 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -d max_execution_time=500 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -d max_execution_time=500 -d max_execution_time=555 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -d upload_tmp_dir=/test/path -d max_execution_time=555 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time")); var_dump(ini_get("upload_tmp_dir"));'`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -d max_execution_time=111 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -d max_execution_time=500 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -d max_execution_time=500 -d max_execution_time=555 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time"));'
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -d upload_tmp_dir=/test/path -d max_execution_time=555 -r 'var_dump(ini_get("max_execution_time")); var_dump(ini_get("upload_tmp_dir"));'
+SHELL));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/004.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/004.phpt
index 83da934c8ff14..c88b85480bdbf 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/004.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/004.phpt
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ include "skipif.inc";
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n --rf unknown`);
-var_dump(`$php -n --rf echo`);
-var_dump(`$php -n --rf phpinfo`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n --rf unknown"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n --rf echo"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n --rf phpinfo"));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/005.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/005.phpt
index 0d8ba066cf7de..ca168ecfe20e3 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/005.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/005.phpt
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ include "skipif.inc";
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n --rc unknown`);
-var_dump(`$php -n --rc stdclass`);
-var_dump(`$php -n --rc exception`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n --rc unknown"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n --rc stdclass"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n --rc exception"));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/006.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/006.phpt
index 38c117ec70f2f..957543c1a28da 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/006.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/006.phpt
@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@ date.timezone=UTC
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n --re unknown`);
-var_dump(`$php -n --re ""`);
-var_dump(`$php -n --re pcre`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n --re unknown"));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n --re ""
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n --re pcre"));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/007.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/007.phpt
index 6f27586e27d96..afefd2b8ddb9c 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/007.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/007.phpt
@@ -32,9 +32,15 @@ class test { /* {{{ */
 
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -w "$filename"`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -w "wrong"`);
-var_dump(`echo "<?php /* comment */ class test {\n // comment \n function foo() {} } ?>" | $php -n -w`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -w "$filename"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -w "wrong"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+echo "<?php /* comment */ class test {\n // comment \n function foo() {} } ?>" | $php -n -w
+SHELL));
 
 @unlink($filename);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/008.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/008.phpt
index a8b205056300e..b893473f95f57 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/008.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/008.phpt
@@ -26,8 +26,12 @@ var_dump(test::$pri);
 
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -f "$filename"`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -f "wrong"`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -f "$filename"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -f "wrong"
+SHELL));
 
 @unlink($filename);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/009.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/009.phpt
index 85f9c6b8f7647..6ba3641c72654 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/009.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/009.phpt
@@ -9,8 +9,12 @@ readline
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -a -r "echo hello;"`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo hello;" -a`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -a -r "echo hello;"
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo hello;" -a
+SHELL));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/010-2.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/010-2.phpt
index 1fc05f8cfa35b..88fe1c832a11e 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/010-2.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/010-2.phpt
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ hello
 
 file_put_contents($filename_txt, $txt);
 
-var_dump(`cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -R "var_dump(1);"`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -R "var_dump(1);"
+SHELL));
 
 @unlink($filename_txt);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/010.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/010.phpt
index 7f0be47329eed..356b69bebf915 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/010.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/010.phpt
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ hello';
 
 file_put_contents($filename_txt, $txt);
 
-var_dump(`cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -F $filename_escaped`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -F $filename_escaped"));
 
 ?>
 --CLEAN--
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/011.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/011.phpt
index d45cb94a08c71..ada916d541631 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/011.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/011.phpt
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ echo test::$var;
 
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -l $filename_escaped`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -l some.unknown`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -l $filename_escaped"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -l some.unknown"));
 
 $code = '
 <?php
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class test
 
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -l $filename_escaped`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -l $filename_escaped"));
 
 @unlink($filename);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/012-2.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/012-2.phpt
index 0f614156fdbbc..5dab2c019bb7b 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/012-2.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/012-2.phpt
@@ -15,17 +15,39 @@ $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 // -s : behavior = HIGHLIGHT
 // -w : behavior = STRIP
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo 1;" -F some.php`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo 2;" -f some.php`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo 3;" -l`); // ignores linting
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo 4;" -R some.php`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo 5;" -B ""`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -a -B ""`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo 6;" -E ""`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -a -E ""`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo 7;" -s`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -r "echo 8;" -w`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -l -r "echo 9;"`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo 1;" -F some.php
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo 2;" -f some.php
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo 3;" -l
+SHELL)); // ignores linting
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo 4;" -R some.php
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo 5;" -B ""
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -a -B ""
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo 6;" -E ""
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -a -E ""
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo 7;" -s
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -r "echo 8;" -w
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+$php -n -l -r "echo 9;"
+SHELL));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/012.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/012.phpt
index be21b3d99e87c..47c086724be34 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/012.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/012.phpt
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ invalid arguments and error messages
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -F some.php -F some.php`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -F some.php -R some.php`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -R some.php -F some.php`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -R some.php -R some.php`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -f some.php -f some.php`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -B '' -B ''`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -E '' -E ''`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -r '' -r ''`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -F some.php -F some.php"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -F some.php -R some.php"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -R some.php -F some.php"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -R some.php -R some.php"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -f some.php -f some.php"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -B '' -B ''"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -E '' -E ''"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -r '' -r ''"));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/013.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/013.phpt
index 345a489403acc..42d4f1eb4c3d2 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/013.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/013.phpt
@@ -16,9 +16,15 @@ $filename_txt = __DIR__."/013.test.txt";
 $filename_txt_escaped = escapeshellarg($filename_txt);
 file_put_contents($filename_txt, "test\nfile\ncontents\n");
 
-var_dump(`cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -B 'var_dump("start");'`);
-var_dump(`cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -E 'var_dump("end");'`);
-var_dump(`cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -B 'var_dump("start");' -E 'var_dump("end");'`);
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -B 'var_dump("start");'
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -E 'var_dump("end");'
+SHELL));
+var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -B 'var_dump("start");' -E 'var_dump("end");'
+SHELL));
 
 @unlink($filename_txt);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/014.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/014.phpt
index 8a13433d643bc..5fb578ca7f126 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/014.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/014.phpt
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ $o = new test;
 file_put_contents($filename, $code);
 
 $filename_escaped = escapeshellarg($filename);
-var_dump(`$php -n -s $filename_escaped`);
-var_dump(`$php -n -s unknown`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -s $filename_escaped"));
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -s unknown"));
 
 @unlink($filename);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/015.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/015.phpt
index 33260043cc626..e8093dbf14798 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/015.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/015.phpt
@@ -13,10 +13,12 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
 
-echo `$php -n --version | grep built:`;
-echo `echo "<?php print_r(\\\$argv);" | $php -n -- foo bar baz`, "\n";
-echo `$php -n --version foo bar baz | grep built:`;
-echo `$php -n --notexisting foo bar baz 2>&1 | grep Usage:`;
+echo shell_exec("$php -n --version | grep built:");
+echo shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+echo "<?php print_r(\\\$argv);" | $php -n -- foo bar baz
+SHELL), "\n";
+echo shell_exec("$php -n --version foo bar baz | grep built:");
+echo shell_exec("$php -n --notexisting foo bar baz 2>&1 | grep Usage:");
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/016.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/016.phpt
index 544633f592f6d..0ba9027f2164d 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/016.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/016.phpt
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ EOT;
 foreach ($codes as $key => $code) {
     echo "\n--------------\nSnippet no. $key:\n--------------\n";
     $code = escapeshellarg($code);
-    echo `echo $code | $php -a`, "\n";
+    echo shell_exec("echo $code | $php -a"), "\n";
 }
 
 echo "\nDone\n";
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/018.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/018.phpt
index 2511fb852e5bf..ffe92d620590a 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/018.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/018.phpt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
 
-echo `$php -n -m`;
+echo shell_exec("$php -n -m");
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/019.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/019.phpt
index 0f5a66c871ef2..481ea2228b34c 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/019.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/019.phpt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
 
-echo `$php -n -i`;
+echo shell_exec("$php -n -i");
 
 echo "\nDone\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/020.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/020.phpt
index 3ccd6a83d3b37..4cffe58e75c9a 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/020.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/020.phpt
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
 
-echo `$php -n --ri this_extension_does_not_exist_568537753423`;
-echo `$php -n --ri standard`;
+echo shell_exec("$php -n --ri this_extension_does_not_exist_568537753423");
+echo shell_exec("$php -n --ri standard");
 
 echo "\nDone\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/021.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/021.phpt
index 9a24ec454a989..9c25d652eb3cc 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/021.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/021.phpt
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ $script = "#!$php -n\n".
 file_put_contents($filename, $script);
 chmod($filename, 0777);
 
-echo `$filename`;
+echo shell_exec($filename);
 
 echo "\nDone\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/025.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/025.phpt
index f0dcb10753210..c02467d7baf7d 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/025.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/025.phpt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
 <?php
 
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
-$output = `$php -n -i`;
+$output = shell_exec("$php -n -i");
 var_dump(str_contains($output, "extension_dir => "));
 
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/argv_mb.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/argv_mb.phpt
index f7f6dd49081b0..72df868a04ae7 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/argv_mb.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/argv_mb.phpt
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ $argv_fl = __DIR__ . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . "argv_test.php";
 $argv_fl_escaped = escapeshellarg($argv_fl);
 file_put_contents($argv_fl, "<?php var_dump(\$argv); ?>");
 
-var_dump(`$php -n $argv_fl_escaped 多字节字符串 マルチバイト文字列 многобайтоваястрока flerbytesträng`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n $argv_fl_escaped 多字节字符串 マルチバイト文字列 многобайтоваястрока flerbytesträng"));
 
 @unlink($argv_fl);
 
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/argv_mb_bug77111.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/argv_mb_bug77111.phpt
index b26ef7661b5a0..e586049a95aab 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/argv_mb_bug77111.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/argv_mb_bug77111.phpt
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ $out_fl = __DIR__ . "\\argv_bug77111.txt";
 $argv_fl = __DIR__ . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . "argv_bug77111_test.php";
 file_put_contents($argv_fl, "<?php file_put_contents('$out_fl', implode(' ', array_slice(\$argv, 1))); ?>");
 
-`$php -n $argv_fl Ästhetik Æstetik Esthétique Estética Эстетика`;
+shell_exec("$php -n $argv_fl Ästhetik Æstetik Esthétique Estética Эстетика");
 var_dump(file_get_contents($out_fl));
 
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/bug71624.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/bug71624.phpt
index 83f48cf921c5a..d55bf03f139f6 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/bug71624.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/bug71624.phpt
@@ -22,9 +22,11 @@ file_put_contents($filename_txt, $txt);
 $test_args = ['$argi', '$argn'];
 foreach ($test_args as $test_arg) {
     if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') {
-        var_dump(`type $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -R "echo $test_arg . PHP_EOL;"`);
+        var_dump(shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+        type $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -R "echo $test_arg . PHP_EOL;"
+        SHELL));
     } else {
-        var_dump(`cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -R 'echo $test_arg . PHP_EOL;'`);
+        var_dump(shell_exec("cat $filename_txt_escaped | $php -n -R 'echo $test_arg . PHP_EOL;'"));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/sapi/cli/tests/gh14189.phpt b/sapi/cli/tests/gh14189.phpt
index 5c0a8b252bf73..192d04a29417d 100644
--- a/sapi/cli/tests/gh14189.phpt
+++ b/sapi/cli/tests/gh14189.phpt
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ exit
 EOT;
 
 $code = escapeshellarg($code);
-echo `echo $code | "$php" -a`, "\n";
+echo shell_exec(<<<SHELL
+echo $code | "$php" -a
+SHELL), "\n";
 ?>
 --EXPECT--
 Interactive shell
diff --git a/sapi/fpm/tests/main-version.phpt b/sapi/fpm/tests/main-version.phpt
index d03372846ede0..8c7dbe78c92e3 100644
--- a/sapi/fpm/tests/main-version.phpt
+++ b/sapi/fpm/tests/main-version.phpt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ require_once "tester.inc";
 
 $php = \FPM\Tester::findExecutable();
 
-var_dump(`$php -n -v`);
+var_dump(shell_exec("$php -n -v"));
 
 echo "Done\n";
 ?>
diff --git a/sapi/phpdbg/tests/bug73615.phpt b/sapi/phpdbg/tests/bug73615.phpt
index 2208cdebf707b..843424d7b3695 100644
--- a/sapi/phpdbg/tests/bug73615.phpt
+++ b/sapi/phpdbg/tests/bug73615.phpt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ $phpdbg = getenv('TEST_PHPDBG_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
 
 chdir(__DIR__."/bug73615");
 
-print `$phpdbg -qn`;
+print shell_exec("$phpdbg -qn");
 
 ?>
 --EXPECT--
diff --git a/tests/run-test/extensions-shared.phpt b/tests/run-test/extensions-shared.phpt
index 10ad664d3839b..d4c17f4b09278 100644
--- a/tests/run-test/extensions-shared.phpt
+++ b/tests/run-test/extensions-shared.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ openssl
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 $php = getenv('TEST_PHP_EXECUTABLE_ESCAPED');
-if (false !== stripos(`$php -n -m`, 'openssl')) {
+if (false !== stripos(shell_exec("$php -n -m"), 'openssl')) {
     die('skip openssl is built static');
 }
 $ext_module = ini_get('extension_dir') . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) === "WIN" ? "php_openssl." : "openssl.") . PHP_SHLIB_SUFFIX;