diff --git a/localstack/utils/common.py b/localstack/utils/common.py
index ee9cae06e9f3e..912ad777baad1 100644
--- a/localstack/utils/common.py
+++ b/localstack/utils/common.py
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ def is_linux():
 
 def is_alpine():
     try:
-        if not os.path.exists('cat /etc/issue'):
+        if not os.path.exists('/etc/issue'):
             return False
         out = to_str(subprocess.check_output('cat /etc/issue', shell=True))
         return 'Alpine' in out