diff --git a/spec/vncserver_spec.py b/spec/vncserver_spec.py
index 490ac67..6890258 100644
--- a/spec/vncserver_spec.py
+++ b/spec/vncserver_spec.py
@@ -3,22 +3,29 @@ import subprocess
 from mamba import description, context, it
 from expects import expect, equal
 
+
+def run_cmd(cmd):
+    completed_process = subprocess.run(cmd, shell=True, text=True,
+                                       capture_output=True,
+                                       executable='/bin/bash')
+    if completed_process.returncode != 0:
+        print(completed_process.stdout)
+        print(completed_process.stderr)
+
+    return completed_process
+
+
 with description('vncserver') as self:
     with it('selects passed DE with -s'):
-        subprocess.run('echo -e "password\\npassword\\n" | vncpasswd -u docker',
-                       shell=True, text=True, executable='/bin/bash')
+        completed_process = run_cmd('echo -e "password\\npassword\\n" | vncpasswd -u docker')
+        expect(completed_process.returncode).to(equal(0))
 
         cmd = 'vncserver :1 -select-de mate -cert /etc/ssl/certs/ssl-cert-snakeoil.pem -key /etc/ssl/private/ssl-cert-snakeoil.key -sslOnly -FrameRate=24 -interface 0.0.0.0 -httpd /usr/share/kasmvnc/www -depth 24 -geometry 1280x1050'
         try:
-            completed_process = subprocess.run(cmd, shell=True, capture_output=True,
-                                            text=True, timeout=3)
-            if completed_process.returncode != 0:
-                print(completed_process.stdout)
-                print(completed_process.stderr)
-            expect(completed_process.returncode).to(equal(0))
+            completed_process = run_cmd(cmd)
             expect(completed_process.returncode).to(equal(0))
 
-            exitcode = os.system('grep -q mate ~/.vnc/xstartup')
-            expect(exitcode).to(equal(0))
+            completed_process = run_cmd('grep -q mate ~/.vnc/xstartup')
+            expect(completed_process.returncode).to(equal(0))
         finally:
-            subprocess.run('vncserver -kill :1', capture_output=True, shell=True, timeout=3)
+            run_cmd('vncserver -kill :1')