diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
index 0c029607..8dca1be0 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
@@ -299,9 +299,9 @@ class App(Base):
     @property
     def os_release(self) -> str:
         if self.__os_release is None:
-            os_release = '/etc/os-release'
-            with open(os_release, 'r') as file:
-                self.__os_release = file.read()
+            result = self.call_async(self.exec_context.run(['/usr/bin/cat', '/etc/os-release'], throw=True))
+            assert result.status == 0
+            self.__os_release = result.stdout.strip()
         return self.__os_release
 
     def os_release_field(self, key: str, throw: bool=False) -> str: