diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index b1dcbb1..ec0157c 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
       "hasInstallScript": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
+        "command-exists": "^1.2.9",
         "sax": "^1.2.4"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
@@ -271,6 +272,12 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-72fSenhMw2HZMTVHeCA9KCmpEIbzWiQsjN+BHcBbS9vr1mtt+vJjPdksIBNUmKAW8TFUDPJK5SUU3QhE9NEXDw==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "node_modules/command-exists": {
+      "version": "1.2.9",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/command-exists/-/command-exists-1.2.9.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-LTQ/SGc+s0Xc0Fu5WaKnR0YiygZkm9eKFvyS+fRsU7/ZWFF8ykFM6Pc9aCVf1+xasOOZpO3BAVgVrKvsqKHV7w==",
+      "license": "MIT"
+    },
     "node_modules/commander": {
       "version": "6.2.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/commander/-/commander-6.2.1.tgz",
@@ -1789,6 +1796,11 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-72fSenhMw2HZMTVHeCA9KCmpEIbzWiQsjN+BHcBbS9vr1mtt+vJjPdksIBNUmKAW8TFUDPJK5SUU3QhE9NEXDw==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "command-exists": {
+      "version": "1.2.9",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/command-exists/-/command-exists-1.2.9.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-LTQ/SGc+s0Xc0Fu5WaKnR0YiygZkm9eKFvyS+fRsU7/ZWFF8ykFM6Pc9aCVf1+xasOOZpO3BAVgVrKvsqKHV7w=="
+    },
     "commander": {
       "version": "6.2.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/commander/-/commander-6.2.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5ce9058..568d350 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     "theme": "dark"
   },
   "dependencies": {
+    "command-exists": "^1.2.9",
     "sax": "^1.2.4"
   },
   "categories": [
diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index c49688f..183766a 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {MODES,
         ALIAS} from './clangMode';
 import {getBinPath} from './clangPath';
 import sax = require('sax');
+import commandExists = require('command-exists');
 
 export let outputChannel = vscode.window.createOutputChannel('Clang-Format');
 
@@ -251,17 +252,19 @@ export class ClangDocumentFormattingEditProvider implements vscode.DocumentForma
         workingPath = path.dirname(document.fileName);
       }
 
+      const formatCommandBinPathExists = commandExists.sync(formatCommandBinPath);
+      if (!formatCommandBinPathExists) {
+        vscode.window.showInformationMessage('The \'' + formatCommandBinPath + '\' command is not available.  Please check your clang-format.executable user setting and ensure it is installed.');
+        return reject(null);
+      }
+
       let stdout = '';
       let stderr = '';
-      let child = cp.spawn(formatCommandBinPath, formatArgs, { cwd: workingPath });
+      let child = cp.spawn(formatCommandBinPath, formatArgs, { cwd: workingPath, shell: true });
       child.stdin.end(codeContent);
       child.stdout.on('data', chunk => stdout += chunk);
       child.stderr.on('data', chunk => stderr += chunk);
       child.on('error', err => {
-        if (err && (<any>err).code === 'ENOENT') {
-          vscode.window.showInformationMessage('The \'' + formatCommandBinPath + '\' command is not available.  Please check your clang-format.executable user setting and ensure it is installed.');
-          return resolve(null);
-        }
         return reject(err);
       });
       child.on('close', code => {