diff --git a/bumblebee/modules/kernel.py b/bumblebee/modules/kernel.py
index 3f7b888..761fa8c 100644
--- a/bumblebee/modules/kernel.py
+++ b/bumblebee/modules/kernel.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 """Shows Linux kernel version information"""
 
+import platform
+
 import bumblebee.input
 import bumblebee.output
 import bumblebee.engine
@@ -11,7 +13,7 @@ class Module(bumblebee.engine.Module):
         super(Module, self).__init__(engine, config,
             bumblebee.output.Widget(full_text=self.output)
         )
-        self._release_name = bumblebee.util.execute("uname -r")[:-1]
+        self._release_name = platform.release()
 
     def output(self, widget):
         return self._release_name