--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
     ICU_VERSION = os.environ['ICU_VERSION']
 except:
     try:
-        ICU_VERSION = check_output(('icu-config', '--version')).strip()
+        ICU_VERSION = check_output(('sh', 'icu-config', '--version')).strip()
         CONFIGURE_WITH_ICU_CONFIG[platform] = True
     except:
         try: