diff --git a/scripts/play_vk b/scripts/play_vk
index 7ca08ac61..04a1edce2 100755
--- a/scripts/play_vk
+++ b/scripts/play_vk
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ trap 'kill -s KILL $PID' TERM INT
 # by the 'trap' instruction above
 
 # SoX play utility syntax
-play -q $1 2> /dev/null &
+$(which play) -q $1 2> /dev/null &
 PID=$!
 wait $PID
 
diff --git a/scripts/soundlog b/scripts/soundlog
index ca0cbdfa0..87863ad5e 100755
--- a/scripts/soundlog
+++ b/scripts/soundlog
@@ -8,16 +8,16 @@ trap 'kill -s INT $PID' TERM USR1
 while [ -f $HOME/.VRlock ]
 do
 		# store recorded files in actual directory
-		filename=`eval date +%d%H%M`".au"
+		filename=$(eval date +%d%H%M)".au"
 		if test -f $filename
 		then
 			sleep 10
 		else
 			# Example command for OSS rec
-			# rec -w  -r 8000 $filename > /dev/null 2> /dev/null
+			# $(which rec) -w  -r 8000 $filename > /dev/null 2> /dev/null
 
 			# Example command for SoX rec
-			rec -c 1  -r 8000 -q $filename &
+			$(which rec) -c 1  -r 8000 -q $filename &
 			PID=$!
 			wait $PID
 		fi
diff --git a/tlf.1.in b/tlf.1.in
index e49498ad0..a4f93081d 100644
--- a/tlf.1.in
+++ b/tlf.1.in
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ shown):
 .
 .P
 .EX
-/usr/bin/pkill \-f rec
+/usr/bin/pkill \-f $(which rec)
 .EE
 .
 .P