diff --git a/lib/stripe.rb b/lib/stripe.rb
index 5f96a8c1..3f8337ec 100644
--- a/lib/stripe.rb
+++ b/lib/stripe.rb
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ module Stripe
         :ssl_ca_file => @@ssl_bundle_path
       }
     end
-    uname = (@@uname ||= RUBY_PLATFORM =~ /linux|darwin/i ? `uname -a 2>/dev/null`.strip : nil)
+    uname = get_uname
     lang_version = "#{RUBY_VERSION} p#{RUBY_PATCHLEVEL} (#{RUBY_RELEASE_DATE})"
     ua = {
       :bindings_version => Stripe::VERSION,
@@ -197,6 +197,13 @@ module Stripe
 
   private
 
+  def self.get_uname
+    (@@uname ||= RUBY_PLATFORM =~ /linux|darwin/i ? `uname -a 2>/dev/null`.strip : nil)
+  rescue Errno::ENOMEM => ex # couldn't create subprocess
+    "uname lookup died"
+  end
+  
+
   def self.execute_request(opts)
     RestClient::Request.execute(opts)
   end