diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index d1af0bc8fc..57c3f0070e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ ensure_not_uninstalled = '''
 import os
 assert('GST_ENV' not in os.environ)
 '''
-cmdres = run_command(python3, '-c', ensure_not_uninstalled)
+cmdres = run_command(python3, '-c', ensure_not_uninstalled, check: false)
 if cmdres.returncode() != 0
   error('Do not run `ninja` or `meson` for gst-build inside the uninstalled environment, you will run into problems')
 endif
 
 # Install gst-indent pre-commit hook
-run_command(python3, '-c', 'import shutil; shutil.copy("scripts/git-hooks/multi-pre-commit.hook", ".git/hooks/pre-commit")')
+run_command(python3, '-c', 'import shutil; shutil.copy("scripts/git-hooks/multi-pre-commit.hook", ".git/hooks/pre-commit")', check: false)
 
 # Ensure that the user does not have Strawberry Perl in PATH, since it ships
 # with a pkg-config.bat and broken pkgconfig files for libffi and zlib. Will
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import os
 assert(r'Strawberry\perl\bin' not in os.environ['PATH'])
 '''
 if build_system == 'windows' and meson.version().version_compare('<0.60.0')
-  cmdres = run_command(python3, '-c', ensure_no_strawberry_perl)
+  cmdres = run_command(python3, '-c', ensure_no_strawberry_perl, check: false)
   if cmdres.returncode() != 0
     error('You have Strawberry Perl in PATH which is known to cause build issues with Meson < 0.60.0. Please remove it from PATH, uninstall it, or upgrade Meson.')
   endif
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ documented_projects = ''
 if not meson.is_subproject() and cc.get_id() == 'msvc'
   uname = find_program('uname', required: false)
   if uname.found()
-    ret = run_command(uname, '-o')
+    ret = run_command(uname, '-o', check: false)
     if ret.returncode() == 0 and ret.stdout().to_lower() == 'msys'
-      ret = run_command(uname, '-r')
+      ret = run_command(uname, '-r', check: false)
       # The kernel version returned by uname is actually the msys version
       if ret.returncode() == 0 and ret.stdout().startswith('2')
         # If a system zlib is found, disable UNIX features in zlib.h and zconf.h
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-devtools/debug-viewer/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-devtools/debug-viewer/meson.build
index 263b7958a2..c001d392b1 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-devtools/debug-viewer/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-devtools/debug-viewer/meson.build
@@ -78,8 +78,7 @@ icondir = join_paths(get_option('datadir'), 'icons/hicolor')
 subdir('data')
 
 
-if run_command(python3,
-    '-c', 'import gi; gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0")').returncode() == 0
+if run_command(python3, '-c', 'import gi; gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0")', check: false).returncode() == 0
   test('gst-debug-viewer', python3, args: ['-m', 'unittest'],
       workdir: meson.current_source_dir())
 endif
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-devtools/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-devtools/meson.build
index 7058806861..7d50af5d10 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-devtools/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-devtools/meson.build
@@ -172,5 +172,3 @@ if not get_option('debug_viewer').disabled()
   subdir('debug-viewer')
 endif
 subdir('docs')
-
-run_command(python3, '-c', 'import shutil; shutil.copy("hooks/multi-pre-commit.hook", ".git/hooks/pre-commit")')
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-docs/meson.build
index bcef479947..95efff66bd 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-docs/meson.build
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.12.2'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
 endif
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ with open(fname, 'r') as f:
       python3,
       '-c', read_file_contents,
       fname,
+      check: false,
     )
   if cmdres.returncode() == 0
     built_subprojects = cmdres.stdout().strip()
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-editing-services/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-editing-services/docs/meson.build
index c22a9d4249..bfffd41144 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-editing-services/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-editing-services/docs/meson.build
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
@@ -118,12 +118,8 @@ import json
 
 with open("@0@") as f:
     print(':'.join(json.load(f).keys()), end='')
-'''.format(plugins_cache))
-
-assert(list_plugin_res.returncode() == 0,
-  'Could not list plugins from @0@\n@1@\n@1@'.format(plugins_cache, list_plugin_res.stdout(), list_plugin_res.stderr()))
-
-
+'''.format(plugins_cache),
+  check: true)
 foreach plugin_name: list_plugin_res.stdout().split(':')
     plugins_doc += [hotdoc.generate_doc(plugin_name,
         project_version: apiversion,
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-editing-services/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-editing-services/meson.build
index b4479d3c94..f2172f84bb 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-editing-services/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-editing-services/meson.build
@@ -174,18 +174,17 @@ elif build_gir
     if not cc.compiles('#include <Python.h>', dependencies: [python_dep])
       error_msg = 'Could not compile a simple program against python'
     elif pylib_loc == ''
-      check_path_exists = 'import os, sys; assert(os.path.exists(sys.argv[1]))'
+      fsmod = import('fs')
       pylib_loc = python.get_variable('LIBPL', '')
       if host_machine.system() != 'windows' and host_machine.system() != 'darwin'
         pylib_ldlibrary = python.get_variable('LDLIBRARY', '')
-        if run_command(python, '-c', check_path_exists, join_paths(pylib_loc, pylib_ldlibrary)).returncode() != 0
+        if not fsmod.exists(pylib_loc / pylib_ldlibrary)
           # Workaround for Fedora
           pylib_loc = python.get_variable('LIBDIR', '')
           message('pylib_loc = @0@'.format(pylib_loc))
         endif
 
-        res = run_command(python, '-c', check_path_exists, join_paths(pylib_loc, pylib_ldlibrary))
-        if res.returncode() != 0
+        if not fsmod.exists(pylib_loc / pylib_ldlibrary)
           error_msg = '@0@ doesn\' exist, can\'t use python'.format(join_paths(pylib_loc, pylib_ldlibrary))
         endif
       endif
@@ -310,7 +309,7 @@ else:
 '''
 pygi_override_dir = get_option('pygi-overrides-dir')
 if pygi_override_dir == ''
-    cres = run_command(python3, '-c', override_detector, get_option('prefix'))
+    cres = run_command(python3, '-c', override_detector, get_option('prefix'), check: false)
     if cres.returncode() == 0
       pygi_override_dir = cres.stdout().strip()
     endif
@@ -327,15 +326,10 @@ endif
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-editing-services.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-editing-services.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 if gio_dep.version().version_compare('< 2.67.4')
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-examples/webrtc/check/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-examples/webrtc/check/meson.build
index c3b64ed2f6..d54907677a 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-examples/webrtc/check/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-examples/webrtc/check/meson.build
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ tests = [
 ]
 
 check_test = find_program ('configure_test_check.py')
-have_webrtc_check_deps = run_command (check_test).returncode() == 0
+have_webrtc_check_deps = run_command (check_test, check: false).returncode() == 0
 
 if openssl.found() and have_webrtc_check_deps
   test_deps = [certs]
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-examples/webrtc/sendrecv/gst-sharp/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-examples/webrtc/sendrecv/gst-sharp/meson.build
index 4e518dfd2a..5212b4dee4 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-examples/webrtc/sendrecv/gst-sharp/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-examples/webrtc/sendrecv/gst-sharp/meson.build
@@ -8,19 +8,16 @@ nuget = find_program('nuget.py')
 dependencies = []
 foreach dependency, version: { 'Newtonsoft.Json': '11.0.2', 'WebSocketSharp': '1.0.3-rc11'}
     message('Getting @0@:@1@'.format(dependency, version))
-    get_dep= run_command(nuget, 'get',
+    get_dep = run_command(nuget, 'get',
         '--builddir',  dependency,
         '--nuget-name', dependency,
         '--nuget-version', version,
         '--csharp-version=net45',
         '--current-builddir', meson.current_build_dir(),
         '--builddir', meson.global_build_root(),  # FIXME: --builddir specified twice?!
+        check: true,
     )
 
-    if get_dep.returncode() != 0
-        error('Failed to get @0@-@1@: @2@'.format(dependency, version, get_dep.stderr()))
-    endif
-
     link_args = get_dep.stdout().split()
     dependencies += [declare_dependency(link_args: link_args, version: version)]
     foreach path: get_dep.stdout().split()
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-libav/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-libav/docs/meson.build
index b51af66035..5f25f20837 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-libav/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-libav/docs/meson.build
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-libav/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-libav/meson.build
index a114631485..296f57ee59 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-libav/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-libav/meson.build
@@ -207,15 +207,10 @@ subdir('tests')
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-libav.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-libav.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 configure_file(output: 'config.h', configuration: cdata)
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-omx/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-omx/meson.build
index e67d7b2553..c0ad4eaa85 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-omx/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-omx/meson.build
@@ -415,15 +415,10 @@ subdir('docs')
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-omx.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-omx.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 configure_file(output: 'config.h', configuration: cdata)
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/docs/meson.build
index 310bcaf97e..88c149343d 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/docs/meson.build
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
@@ -215,10 +215,8 @@ import json
 
 with open("@0@") as f:
     print(':'.join(json.load(f).keys()), end='')
-'''.format(plugins_cache))
-
-assert(list_plugin_res.returncode() == 0,
-  'Could not list plugins from @0@'.format(plugins_cache))
+'''.format(plugins_cache),
+  check: true)
 
 plugins_doc = []
 foreach plugin_name: list_plugin_res.stdout().split(':')
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/opencv/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/opencv/meson.build
index 709c7e6a44..1d86b9092d 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/opencv/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/opencv/meson.build
@@ -89,15 +89,15 @@ if opencv_found
 
   # Check the data dir used by opencv for its xml data files
   # Use prefix from pkg-config to be compatible with cross-compilation
-  r = run_command('test', '-d', opencv_prefix + '/share/opencv')
+  r = run_command('test', '-d', opencv_prefix + '/share/opencv', check: false)
   if r.returncode() == 0
     gstopencv_cargs += '-DOPENCV_PATH_NAME="opencv"'
   else
-    r = run_command('test', '-d', opencv_prefix + '/share/OpenCV')
+    r = run_command('test', '-d', opencv_prefix + '/share/OpenCV', check: false)
     if r.returncode() == 0
       gstopencv_cargs += '-DOPENCV_PATH_NAME="OpenCV"'
     else
-      r = run_command('test', '-d', opencv_prefix + '/share/opencv4')
+      r = run_command('test', '-d', opencv_prefix + '/share/opencv4', check: false)
       if r.returncode() == 0
         gstopencv_cargs += '-DOPENCV_PATH_NAME="opencv4"'
       else
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/vulkan/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/vulkan/meson.build
index 090a7c7161..1e5b4ac0c9 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/vulkan/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/vulkan/meson.build
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ if ['ios', 'darwin'].contains(host_system)
   #   https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/issues/492
   vulkan_dep = cc.find_library('MoltenVK', required : get_option('vulkan'))
 elif host_system == 'windows'
-  vulkan_root = run_command(python3, '-c', 'import os; print(os.environ.get("VK_SDK_PATH"))').stdout().strip()
+  vulkan_root = run_command(python3, '-c', 'import os; print(os.environ.get("VK_SDK_PATH"))', check: false).stdout().strip()
   if vulkan_root != '' and vulkan_root != 'None'
     vulkan_lib_dir = ''
     if build_machine.cpu_family() == 'x86_64'
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/meson.build
index 2b2db15453..cbb9e65638 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/meson.build
@@ -536,15 +536,10 @@ subdir('scripts')
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-plugins-bad.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-plugins-bad.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 if glib_dep.version().version_compare('< 2.67.4')
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/msdk/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/msdk/meson.build
index f468403262..24aabc7612 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/msdk/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/msdk/meson.build
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ if mfx_api != 'oneVPL'
     use_msdk = true
   else
     # Old versions of MediaSDK don't provide a pkg-config file
-    mfx_root = run_command(python3, '-c', 'import os; print(os.environ.get("INTELMEDIASDKROOT", os.environ.get("MFX_HOME", "")))').stdout().strip()
+    mfx_root = run_command(python3, '-c', 'import os; print(os.environ.get("INTELMEDIASDKROOT", os.environ.get("MFX_HOME", "")))', check: false).stdout().strip()
 
     if mfx_root != ''
       mfx_libdir = [mfx_root + '/lib/lin_x64', mfx_root + '/lib/x64', mfx_root + '/lib64', mfx_root + '/lib']
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/docs/meson.build
index cdc39244cf..4cc5dc0404 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/docs/meson.build
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
@@ -202,12 +202,8 @@ import json
 
 with open("@0@") as f:
     print(':'.join(json.load(f).keys()), end='')
-'''.format(plugins_cache))
-
-assert(list_plugin_res.returncode() == 0,
-  'Could not list plugins from @0@\n@1@\n@1@'.format(plugins_cache, list_plugin_res.stdout(), list_plugin_res.stderr()))
-
-
+'''.format(plugins_cache),
+  check: true)
 foreach plugin_name: list_plugin_res.stdout().split(':')
     plugins_doc += [hotdoc.generate_doc(plugin_name,
         project_version: api_version,
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/meson.build
index 7f48c7d14f..404c983f01 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/meson.build
@@ -524,15 +524,10 @@ endif
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-plugins-base.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    core_conf.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-plugins-base.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  core_conf.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 if gio_dep.version().version_compare('< 2.67.4')
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/docs/meson.build
index 150e04c6dc..beed1ae125 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/docs/meson.build
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
@@ -83,11 +83,8 @@ import json
 
 with open("@0@") as f:
     print(':'.join(json.load(f).keys()), end='')
-'''.format(plugins_cache))
-
-assert(list_plugin_res.returncode() == 0,
-  'Could not list plugins from @0@'.format(plugins_cache))
-
+'''.format(plugins_cache),
+  check: true)
 foreach plugin_name: list_plugin_res.stdout().split(':')
     plugins_doc += [hotdoc.generate_doc(plugin_name,
     project_version: api_version,
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/meson.build
index 60e390ff72..2097f9764a 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/meson.build
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ if host_cpu == 'x86_64'
     if nasm.found()
       # We can't use the version: kwarg for find_program because old versions
       # of nasm don't support --version
-      ret = run_command(nasm, '-v')
+      ret = run_command(nasm, '-v', check: false)
       if ret.returncode() == 0
         nasm_version = ret.stdout().strip().split()[2]
         nasm_req = '>=2.13'
@@ -489,15 +489,10 @@ subdir('scripts')
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-plugins-good.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-plugins-good.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 if gio_dep.version().version_compare('< 2.67.4')
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-ugly/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-ugly/docs/meson.build
index 73a7d0532d..f71d07bb96 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-ugly/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-ugly/docs/meson.build
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
@@ -84,11 +84,8 @@ import json
 
 with open("@0@") as f:
         print(':'.join(json.load(f).keys()), end='')
-'''.format(plugins_cache))
-
-assert(list_plugin_res.returncode() == 0,
-  'Could not list plugins from @0@'.format(plugins_cache))
-
+'''.format(plugins_cache),
+  check: true)
 foreach plugin_name: list_plugin_res.stdout().split(':')
     plugins_doc += [hotdoc.generate_doc(plugin_name,
         project_version: api_version,
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-ugly/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-plugins-ugly/meson.build
index b015f26a53..b9c6772ba0 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-ugly/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-ugly/meson.build
@@ -296,15 +296,10 @@ subdir('scripts')
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-plugins-ugly.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-plugins-ugly.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 configure_file(output : 'config.h', configuration : cdata)
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
index 56b4834287..7d1f45356e 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-python/meson.build
@@ -34,20 +34,19 @@ python_dep = python.dependency(embed:true, required : true)
 python_abi_flags = python.get_variable('ABIFLAGS', '')
 pylib_loc = get_option('libpython-dir')
 if pylib_loc == ''
-  check_path_exists = 'import os, sys; assert(os.path.exists(sys.argv[1]))'
+  fsmod = import('fs')
   pylib_loc = python.get_variable('LIBPL', '')
   if host_machine.system() != 'windows' and host_machine.system() != 'darwin'
     pylib_ldlibrary = python.get_variable('LDLIBRARY', '')
-    if run_command(python, '-c', check_path_exists, join_paths(pylib_loc, pylib_ldlibrary)).returncode() != 0
+    if not fsmod.exists(pylib_loc / pylib_ldlibrary)
       # Workaround for Fedora
       pylib_loc = python.get_variable('LIBDIR', '')
       message('pylib_loc = @0@'.format(pylib_loc))
     endif
 
-    assert(
-      run_command(python, '-c', check_path_exists, join_paths(pylib_loc, pylib_ldlibrary)).returncode() == 0,
-      'Python dynamic library path could not be determined'
-    )
+    if not fsmod.exists(pylib_loc / pylib_ldlibrary)
+      error('Python dynamic library path could not be determined')
+    endif
   endif
 endif
 
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-python/testsuite/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-python/testsuite/meson.build
index 8ead4b7b4c..13738a9f36 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-python/testsuite/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-python/testsuite/meson.build
@@ -10,21 +10,14 @@ pluginsdirs = []
 if not meson.is_subproject()
   pkgconfig = find_program('pkg-config')
   runcmd = run_command(pkgconfig, '--variable=pluginsdir',
-      'gstreamer-' + api_version)
-  if runcmd.returncode() == 0
-      pluginsdirs = runcmd.stdout().split()
-  else
-    error('Could not determine GStreamer core plugins directory for unit tests.')
-  endif
+      'gstreamer-' + api_version, check: true)
+  pluginsdirs = runcmd.stdout().split()
 endif
 
 runcmd = run_command(python, '-c', '''with open("@0@/mesonconfig.py", "w") as f:
     f.write("path='@1@'")'''.format(
-  join_paths(meson.current_build_dir()), join_paths(meson.current_build_dir(), '..')))
-
-if runcmd.returncode() != 0
-    error('Could not configure testsuite config file.' + runcmd.stderr())
-endif
+  join_paths(meson.current_build_dir()), join_paths(meson.current_build_dir(), '..')),
+  check: true)
 
 pluginsdirs = []
 if gst_dep.type_name() == 'pkgconfig'
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-rtsp-server/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-rtsp-server/docs/meson.build
index cc56a16c35..fa649cf077 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-rtsp-server/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-rtsp-server/docs/meson.build
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-rtsp-server/meson.build b/subprojects/gst-rtsp-server/meson.build
index 103d97ccc7..61bbae83b9 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-rtsp-server/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gst-rtsp-server/meson.build
@@ -208,15 +208,10 @@ subdir('docs')
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-rtsp-server.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gst-rtsp-server.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 configure_file(output: 'config.h', configuration: cdata)
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer-sharp/Tests/meson.build b/subprojects/gstreamer-sharp/Tests/meson.build
index 8e50ead9f2..59bf9d182b 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer-sharp/Tests/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer-sharp/Tests/meson.build
@@ -13,22 +13,19 @@ if nunit_console.found()
         '--csharp-version=net45',
         '--current-builddir', meson.current_build_dir(),
         '--builddir', meson.build_root(), # FIXME: --builddir specified twice?!
+        check: true,
     )
 
 
     nunit_mono_path = []
     nunit_dep = dependency('mono-nunit', required: false, version: ['>=2.6', '< 2.7'])
     if not nunit_dep.found()
-        if get_nunit_res.returncode() != 0
-            message('Failed to get NUnit: ' + get_nunit_res.stderr())
-        else
-            foreach path: get_nunit_res.stdout().split()
-              nunit_mono_path += [join_paths(meson.build_root(), path.strip('-r:'), '..')]
-            endforeach
+        foreach path: get_nunit_res.stdout().split()
+          nunit_mono_path += [meson.build_root() / path.strip('-r:') / '..']
+        endforeach
 
-            nunit_dep = declare_dependency(link_args: get_nunit_res.stdout().split(),
-                version: nunit_version)
-        endif
+        nunit_dep = declare_dependency(link_args: get_nunit_res.stdout().split(),
+            version: nunit_version)
     endif
 
     if nunit_mono_path.length() > 0
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer-vaapi/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gstreamer-vaapi/docs/meson.build
index 3b2a70c084..cbff75cba3 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer-vaapi/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer-vaapi/docs/meson.build
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer-vaapi/meson.build b/subprojects/gstreamer-vaapi/meson.build
index b7bd10ffc6..09273b25e1 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer-vaapi/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer-vaapi/meson.build
@@ -204,15 +204,10 @@ subdir('docs')
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gstreamer-vaapi.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gstreamer-vaapi.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 if gmodule_dep.version().version_compare('< 2.67.4')
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer/docs/meson.build b/subprojects/gstreamer/docs/meson.build
index 148c6e08ba..26331d7f3a 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer/docs/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer/docs/meson.build
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ if not hotdoc_p.found()
 endif
 
 hotdoc_req = '>= 0.11.0'
-hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version').stdout()
+hotdoc_version = run_command(hotdoc_p, '--version', check: false).stdout()
 if not hotdoc_version.version_compare(hotdoc_req)
     if get_option('doc').enabled()
         error('Hotdoc version @0@ not found, got @1@'.format(hotdoc_req, hotdoc_version))
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/parse/meson.build b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/parse/meson.build
index 161f4801ea..b79a07caf8 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/parse/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/parse/meson.build
@@ -33,11 +33,7 @@ bison_cdata = configuration_data()
 bison_min_version='2.4'
 bison = find_program('bison', 'win_bison')
 
-bversion_res = run_command([bison, '--version'])
-if bversion_res.returncode() != 0
-  error('Could not get bison version (@0@)'.format(bversion_res.stderr()))
-endif
-
+bversion_res = run_command([bison, '--version'], check: true)
 bversion = bversion_res.stdout().split('\n')[0].split(' ')[-1].strip()
 if bversion.version_compare('<' + bison_min_version)
   error('bison version @0@ >= @1@: NO'.format(bversion, bison_min_version))
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer/meson.build b/subprojects/gstreamer/meson.build
index d20fe0040f..5bb5ccb3e6 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer/meson.build
@@ -608,15 +608,10 @@ subdir('scripts')
 # Set release date
 if gst_version_nano == 0
   extract_release_date = find_program('scripts/extract-release-date-from-doap-file.py')
-  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gstreamer.doap'))
-  if run_result.returncode() == 0
-    release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
-    cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
-    message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
-  else
-    # Error out if our release can't be found in the .doap file
-    error(run_result.stderr())
-  endif
+  run_result = run_command(extract_release_date, gst_version, files('gstreamer.doap'), check: true)
+  release_date = run_result.stdout().strip()
+  cdata.set_quoted('GST_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DATETIME', release_date)
+  message('Package release date: ' + release_date)
 endif
 
 configure_file(output : 'config.h', configuration : cdata)
diff --git a/tests/python/meson.build b/tests/python/meson.build
index aae7cf63bd..14f5af4b84 100644
--- a/tests/python/meson.build
+++ b/tests/python/meson.build
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ endif
 root_rel = '../..'
 python = import('python').find_installation()
 
-if run_command(python, '-c', 'import gi').returncode() != 0
+if run_command(python, '-c', 'import gi', check: false).returncode() != 0
     message('PyGObject not found, not running PyGObject tests')
     subdir_done()
 endif