diff --git a/build_database.py b/build_database.py
index 249f9a3..283297e 100644
--- a/build_database.py
+++ b/build_database.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
+import subprocess
 import csv
 import gzip
 import logging
@@ -196,9 +197,9 @@ async def main_with_ctx(ctx, wanted_date):
 
     log.info("going to process posts")
 
-    line_count_str = subprocess.check_output(
-        ["wc", "-l", output_compressed_paths["posts"]], stdout=subprocess.PIPE
-    )
+    line_count_str, _path = subprocess.check_output(
+        ["wc", "-l", output_uncompressed_paths["posts"]]
+    ).split()
     line_count = int(line_count_str)
 
     with output_uncompressed_paths["posts"].open(