diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index 99ac837..03dcae5 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -626,6 +626,19 @@ class Application(object):
                 else:
                     i += 1
 
+    # running external programs
+    def run_pipe(self, args, b, name='*Output*', switch='yes'):
+        pipe = Popen(args=args, stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, stderr=STDOUT)
+        pipe.stdin.write(b.make_string())
+        pipe.stdin.close()
+        output = pipe.stdout.read()
+        status = pipe.wait()
+        if callable(switch):
+            switch_to = switch(status)
+        else:
+            switch_to = bool(switch)
+        self.data_buffer(name, output, switch_to=switch_to)
+        return status
     def run_external(self, *args):
         curses.reset_shell_mode()
         try:
diff --git a/mode/perl.py b/mode/perl.py
index c80a3a5..650a48d 100644
--- a/mode/perl.py
+++ b/mode/perl.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os, re, string, sys
+from subprocess import Popen, PIPE, STDOUT
 import buffer, color, commands, completer, context, default, method, mode, regex, tab
 from point import Point
 from lex import Grammar, PatternRule, ContextPatternRule, RegionRule, \
@@ -196,25 +197,19 @@ class PerlSetLib(Method):
 class PerlCheckSyntax(Method):
     '''Check the syntax of a perl file'''
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
-        app = w.application
-        perllib = w.application.config.get('perl.lib')
-        if perllib:
-            cmd = "perl -c -I '%s' '%s'" % (perllib, w.buffer.path)
-        else:
-            cmd = "perl -c '%s'" % (w.buffer.path)
-        (status, output) = commands.getstatusoutput(cmd)
-        if status == 0:
-            app.set_error("Syntax OK")
-            app.data_buffer("*Perl-Check-Syntax*", output, switch_to=False)
-        else:
-            app.data_buffer("*Perl-Check-Syntax*", output)
+        a = w.application
+        args = ('perl', '-I', a.config.get('perl.lib', '.'), '-c', '-')
+        retval = a.run_pipe(args, w.buffer, '*Perl-Syntax*', lambda x: x != 0)
+        if retval == 0: a.set_error("Syntax OK")
 
 class PerlViewModulePerldoc(Method):
-    '''View documentation about this file using perldoc'''
+    '''View documentation about this buffer using perldoc'''
+    prog = 'use Pod::Text;' \
+        'Pod::Text->new(sentence=>0, width=>78)->parse_from_filehandle();'
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
-        cmd = "perldoc -t -T '%s'" % w.buffer.path
-        (status, output) = commands.getstatusoutput(cmd)
-        w.application.data_buffer("*Perldoc*", output, switch_to=True)
+        app = w.application
+        args = ('perl', '-e', self.prog)
+        app.run_pipe(args, w.buffer, '*Perldoc*', True)
 
 class PerlViewWordPerldoc(Method):
     '''View documentation about a package or function using perldoc'''