diff --git a/lib/overcommit/subprocess.rb b/lib/overcommit/subprocess.rb
index 9f556659..74edd172 100644
--- a/lib/overcommit/subprocess.rb
+++ b/lib/overcommit/subprocess.rb
@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@ def spawn(args)
         Result.new(process.exit_code, out.read, err.read)
       end
 
+      # Spawns a new process in the background using the given array of
+      # arguments (the first element is the command).
+      def spawn_detached(args)
+        # Dissociate process from parent's input/output streams
+        Process.detach(Process.spawn({}, *args, [:in, :out, :err] => '/dev/null'))
+      end
+
       private
 
       # @param process [ChildProcess]
diff --git a/lib/overcommit/utils.rb b/lib/overcommit/utils.rb
index 540937f3..e51ce93a 100644
--- a/lib/overcommit/utils.rb
+++ b/lib/overcommit/utils.rb
@@ -131,8 +131,7 @@ def execute_in_background(args)
                 'Cannot pipe commands with the `execute_in_background` helper'
         end
 
-        # Dissociate process from parent's input/output streams
-        Process.detach(Process.spawn({}, *args, [:in, :out, :err] => '/dev/null'))
+        Subprocess.spawn_detached(args)
       end
 
       # Calls a block of code with a modified set of environment variables,