diff --git a/vision/samples/package.json b/vision/samples/package.json
index e6dee3aca7..7a49219afe 100644
--- a/vision/samples/package.json
+++ b/vision/samples/package.json
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
   "devDependencies": {
     "@google-cloud/storage": "^2.0.0",
     "chai": "^4.2.0",
-    "execa": "^1.0.0",
     "mocha": "^6.0.0",
     "uuid": "^3.2.1"
   }
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/async-batch-annotate-images.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/async-batch-annotate-images.test.js
index 87cf55b29f..6de8169fac 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/async-batch-annotate-images.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/async-batch-annotate-images.test.js
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 const {Storage} = require('@google-cloud/storage');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
+
 const storage = new Storage();
 const bucketName = `nodejs-docs-samples-test-${uuid.v4()}`;
 const cmd = `node async-batch-annotate-images.js`;
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ describe(`detect v1 p4 beta1`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should annotate the remote landmark.jpg sample`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} gs://${bucketName}/${files[1].name} gs://${bucketName}/out/`
     );
     assert.match(output, /Json saved to: gs:\/\//);
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/batch-annotate-files-gcs.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/batch-annotate-files-gcs.test.js
index 2651a23da9..29742a3301 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/batch-annotate-files-gcs.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/batch-annotate-files-gcs.test.js
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 const {Storage} = require('@google-cloud/storage');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
+
 const storage = new Storage();
 const bucketName = `nodejs-docs-samples-test-${uuid.v4()}`;
 const cmd = `node batch-annotate-files-gcs.js`;
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ describe(`detect v1 p4 beta1`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should annotate the remote pdf-ocr.pdf in GCS bucket`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} gs://${bucketName}/${files[0].name}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} gs://${bucketName}/${files[0].name}`);
     assert.match(output, /Word text: Boring/);
     assert.match(output, /Symbol: p/);
   });
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/batch-annotate-files.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/batch-annotate-files.test.js
index 7eb8d5f45c..0587a72d9e 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/batch-annotate-files.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/batch-annotate-files.test.js
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 const {Storage} = require('@google-cloud/storage');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
+
 const storage = new Storage();
 const bucketName = `nodejs-docs-samples-test-${uuid.v4()}`;
 const cmd = `node batch-annotate-files.js`;
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ describe(`detect v1 p4 beta1`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should annotate the local pdf-ocr.pdf sample`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} ${files[0].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} ${files[0].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Word text: Boring/);
     assert.match(output, /Symbol: p/);
   });
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/detect.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/detect.test.js
index 8b55752168..ee467502e7 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/detect.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/detect.test.js
@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 const {Storage} = require('@google-cloud/storage');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
 const vision = require('@google-cloud/vision');
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
+
 const client = new vision.ImageAnnotatorClient();
 
 const storage = new Storage();
@@ -61,41 +62,37 @@ describe(`detect`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should detect faces in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} faces ${files[0].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} faces ${files[0].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Faces:/);
     assert.match(output, /Face #1:/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect faces in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
-      `${cmd} faces-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[0].name}`
-    );
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} faces-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[0].name}`);
     assert.match(output, /Faces:/);
     assert.match(output, /Face #1:/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect labels in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} labels ${files[4].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} labels ${files[4].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Labels:/);
     assert.match(output, /cat/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect labels in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
-      `${cmd} labels-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[4].name}`
-    );
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} labels-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[4].name}`);
     assert.match(output, /Labels:/);
     assert.match(output, /cat/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect landmarks in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} landmarks ${files[1].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} landmarks ${files[1].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Landmarks:/);
     assert.match(output, /Palace of Fine Arts/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect landmarks in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} landmarks-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[1].name}`
     );
     assert.match(output, /Landmarks:/);
@@ -103,39 +100,37 @@ describe(`detect`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should detect text in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} text ${files[3].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} text ${files[3].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Text:/);
     assert.match(output, /System Software Update/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect text in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} text-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[3].name}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} text-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[3].name}`);
     assert.match(output, /Text:/);
     assert.match(output, /System Software Update/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect logos in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} logos ${files[9].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} logos ${files[9].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Logos:/);
     assert.match(output, /google/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect logos in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
-      `${cmd} logos-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[9].name}`
-    );
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} logos-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[9].name}`);
     assert.match(output, /Logos:/);
     assert.match(output, /google/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect properties in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} properties ${files[1].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} properties ${files[1].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /{ color: { red: 69, green: 42, blue: 27/);
     assert.ok(output.split(`\n`).length > 4, `Multiple colors were detected.`);
   });
 
   it(`should detect properties in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} properties-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[1].name}`
     );
     assert.match(output, /{ color: { red: 69, green: 42, blue: 27/);
@@ -143,34 +138,32 @@ describe(`detect`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should detect safe-search in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} safe-search ${files[4].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} safe-search ${files[4].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /VERY_LIKELY/);
     assert.match(output, /Racy:/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect safe-search in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} safe-search-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[4].name}`
     );
     assert.match(output, /Medical:/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect crop hints in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} crops ${files[2].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} crops ${files[2].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Crop Hint 0:/);
     assert.match(output, /Bound 2: \(280, 43\)/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect crop hints in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
-      `${cmd} crops-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[2].name}`
-    );
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} crops-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[2].name}`);
     assert.match(output, /Crop Hint 0:/);
     assert.match(output, /Bound 2: \(280, 43\)/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect similar web images in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} web ${files[5].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} web ${files[5].localPath}`);
 
     const [results] = await client.webDetection(files[5].localPath);
     const webDetection = results.webDetection;
@@ -195,7 +188,7 @@ describe(`detect`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should detect similar web images in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} web-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[5].name}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} web-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[5].name}`);
 
     const [results] = await client.webDetection(
       `gs://${bucketName}/${files[5].name}`
@@ -222,14 +215,14 @@ describe(`detect`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should detect web entities with geo metadata in local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} web-geo ${files[1].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} web-geo ${files[1].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Description:/);
     assert.match(output, /Score:/);
     assert.match(output, /Rome/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect web entities with geo metadata in remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} web-geo-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[1].name}`
     );
     assert.match(output, /Description:/);
@@ -238,35 +231,35 @@ describe(`detect`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should read a document from a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} fulltext ${files[2].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} fulltext ${files[2].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Google Cloud Platform/);
     assert.match(output, /Word text: Cloud/);
     assert.match(output, /Word confidence: 0.9/);
   });
 
   it(`should read a document from a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} fulltext-gcs ${bucketName} ${files[2].name}`
     );
     assert.match(output, /Google Cloud Platform/);
   });
 
   it(`should extract text from pdf file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} pdf ${bucketName} ${files[7].name} ${prefix}`
     );
     assert.match(output, /results/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect objects in a local file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} localize-objects ${files[8].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} localize-objects ${files[8].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Name: Bird/);
     assert.match(output, /Name: Duck/);
     assert.match(output, /Name: Toy/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect objects in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} localize-objects-gcs gs://${bucketName}/${files[8].name}`
     );
     assert.match(output, /Name: Bird/);
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/detect.v1p1beta1.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/detect.v1p1beta1.test.js
index 0554e56a67..ce7352194f 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/detect.v1p1beta1.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/detect.v1p1beta1.test.js
@@ -16,10 +16,11 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const path = require('path');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
+
 const cmd = `node detect.v1p1beta1.js`;
 const files = [`text.jpg`, `wakeupcat.jpg`, `landmark.jpg`, `city.jpg`].map(
   name => {
@@ -32,25 +33,25 @@ const files = [`text.jpg`, `wakeupcat.jpg`, `landmark.jpg`, `city.jpg`].map(
 
 describe(`detect v1 p1 beta1`, () => {
   it(`should extract text from image file and print confidence`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} fulltext ${files[0].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} fulltext ${files[0].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Word text: class/);
     assert.match(output, /Word confidence:/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect safe search properties from image file`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} safe-search ${files[1].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} safe-search ${files[1].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /VERY_LIKELY/);
     assert.match(output, /Racy:/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect web entities including best guess labels`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} web ${files[2].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} web ${files[2].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Description: Palace Of Fine Arts/);
     assert.match(output, /Best guess label: palace of fine arts/);
   });
 
   it(`should detect web entities using geographical metadata`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} web-entities-geo ${files[3].localPath}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} web-entities-geo ${files[3].localPath}`);
     assert.match(output, /Score:/);
   });
 });
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/detect.v1p3beta1.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/detect.v1p3beta1.test.js
index 3ddba915ed..1cf091f09c 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/detect.v1p3beta1.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/detect.v1p3beta1.test.js
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 const {Storage} = require('@google-cloud/storage');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
+
 const storage = new Storage();
 const bucketName = `nodejs-docs-samples-test-${uuid.v4()}`;
 const cmd = `node detect.v1p3beta1.js`;
@@ -49,12 +50,12 @@ describe(`detect v1 p3 beta1`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should read handwriting in local handwritten.jpg sample`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} detectHandwriting ${files[1]}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} detectHandwriting ${files[1]}`);
     assert.match(output, /hand written message/);
   });
 
   it(`should read handwriting from handwritten.jpg in GCS bucket`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} detectHandwritingGCS gs://${bucketName}/${files[1].name}`
     );
     assert.match(output, /hand written message/);
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/faceDetection.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/faceDetection.test.js
index 0cc297a801..564baedd86 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/faceDetection.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/faceDetection.test.js
@@ -17,16 +17,17 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
+
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
 const cmd = `node faceDetection.js`;
 const inputFile = path.join(__dirname, '../resources', 'face.png');
 const outputFile = path.join(__dirname, '../../', 'out.png');
 
 describe(`face detection`, () => {
   it(`should detect faces`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(`${cmd} ${inputFile} ${outputFile}`);
+    const output = execSync(`${cmd} ${inputFile} ${outputFile}`);
     assert.match(output, /Found 1 face/);
     assert.match(output, /Highlighting.../);
     assert.match(output, /Finished!/);
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/importProductSets.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/importProductSets.test.js
index 4290790b38..b029da69af 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/importProductSets.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/importProductSets.test.js
@@ -16,9 +16,10 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
+
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
 const cmd = `node productSearch/importProductSets.js`;
 
 //Shared fixture data for product tests
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ const testImportProductSets = {
 
 describe(`import product sets`, () => {
   it(`should import a Product Set`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} importProductSets "${testImportProductSets.projectId}" "${
         testImportProductSets.location
       }" "${testImportProductSets.gcsUri}"`
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/productSearch.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/productSearch.test.js
index fd336b8c4e..f0ab06a85d 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/productSearch.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/productSearch.test.js
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 const vision = require('@google-cloud/vision');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
+
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
 
 const productSearchClient = new vision.ProductSearchClient();
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
 const cmd = `node productSearch/productSearch.js`;
 
 // Shared fixture data for product tests
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ describe(`product search`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should add product to product set`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} addProductToProductSet "${testProductSet.projectId}" "${
         testProductSet.location
       }" "${testProductSet.productId}" "${testProductSet.productSetId}"`
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ describe(`product search`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should remove a product from a product set`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} removeProductFromProductSet "${testProductSet.projectId}" "${
         testProductSet.location
       }" "${testProductSet.productId}" "${testProductSet.productSetId}"`
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/productSets.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/productSets.test.js
index 0e431d696e..a6c8838ed4 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/productSets.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/productSets.test.js
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 const vision = require('@google-cloud/vision');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
+
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
 
 const productSearch = new vision.ProductSearchClient();
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
 const cmd = `node productSearch/productSets.js`;
 
 // Shared fixture data for product tests
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ describe(`product sets`, () => {
     assert.strictEqual(await getProductSetOrFalse(newProductSetPath), false);
     testProductSet.createdProductSetPaths.push(newProductSetPath);
 
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} createProductSet "${testProductSet.projectId}" "${
         testProductSet.location
       }" "${newProductSetId}" "${testProductSet.productSetDisplayName}"`
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ describe(`product sets`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should get product set`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} getProductSet "${testProductSet.projectId}" "${
         testProductSet.location
       }" "${testProductSet.productSetId}"`
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ describe(`product sets`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should list product sets`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} listProductSets "${testProductSet.projectId}" "${
         testProductSet.location
       }"`
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ describe(`product sets`, () => {
     });
     assert.ok(productSet);
 
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} deleteProductSet "${testProductSet.projectId}" "${
         testProductSet.location
       }" "${testProductSet.productSetId}"`
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/products.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/products.test.js
index 0de32dfe73..9c399f504f 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/products.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/products.test.js
@@ -18,9 +18,10 @@
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 const vision = require('@google-cloud/vision');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
+
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
 const cmd = `node productSearch/products.js`;
 
 const productSearch = new vision.ProductSearchClient();
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
     const maybeProduct = await getProductOrFalse(newProductPath);
     assert.strictEqual(maybeProduct, false);
 
-    let output = await exec(
+    let output = execSync(
       `${cmd} createProduct "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}" "${testProduct.productDisplayName}" "${
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
     assert.ok(newProduct.displayName === testProduct.productDisplayName);
     assert.ok(newProduct.productCategory === testProduct.productCategory);
 
-    output = await exec(
+    output = execSync(
       `${cmd} deleteProduct "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}"`
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
       newProductId
     );
     assert.strictEqual(await getProductOrFalse(newProductPath), false);
-    let output = await exec(
+    let output = execSync(
       `${cmd} createProduct "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}" "${testProduct.productDisplayName}" "${
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
 
     assert.match(output, new RegExp(`Product name: ${newProductPath}`));
 
-    output = await exec(
+    output = execSync(
       `${cmd} getProduct "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}"`
@@ -146,7 +147,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
     );
     assert.match(output, /Product labels:/);
 
-    output = await exec(
+    output = execSync(
       `${cmd} deleteProduct "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}"`
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should list products`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} listProducts "${testProduct.projectId}" "${testProduct.location}"`
     );
     assert.match(output, new RegExp(`Product id: ${testProduct.productId}`));
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
       testProduct.location,
       newProductId
     );
-    let output = await exec(
+    let output = execSync(
       `${cmd} createProduct "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}" "${testProduct.productDisplayName}" "${
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
     );
 
     assert.match(output, new RegExp(`Product name: ${newProductPath}`));
-    output = await exec(
+    output = execSync(
       `${cmd} updateProductLabels "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}" "${testProduct.productKey}" "${
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
       newProductId
     );
     assert.strictEqual(await getProductOrFalse(newProductPath), false);
-    let output = await exec(
+    let output = execSync(
       `${cmd} createProduct "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}" "${testProduct.productDisplayName}" "${
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ describe(`products`, () => {
 
     assert.match(output, new RegExp(`Product name: ${newProductPath}`));
 
-    output = await exec(
+    output = execSync(
       `${cmd} deleteProduct "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${newProductId}"`
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/quickstart.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/quickstart.test.js
index b0e88b11c6..66eae95743 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/quickstart.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/quickstart.test.js
@@ -16,11 +16,13 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
+
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
 
 describe(`quickstart`, () => {
   it(`should detect labels in a remote file`, async () => {
-    const {stdout} = await execa.shell('node quickstart.js');
+    const stdout = execSync('node quickstart.js');
     assert.match(stdout, /Labels:/);
     assert.match(stdout, /cat/);
   });
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/referenceImages.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/referenceImages.test.js
index 9e8c7114ae..b15c6d7218 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/referenceImages.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/referenceImages.test.js
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 const uuid = require('uuid');
 const vision = require('@google-cloud/vision');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
+
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
 
 const productSearchClient = new vision.ProductSearchClient();
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
 const cmd = `node productSearch/referenceImages.js`;
 
 // Shared fixture data for product tests
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ describe(`reference images`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should create reference image`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} createReferenceImage "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${testProduct.productId}" "${testProduct.productReferenceImageId}" "${
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ describe(`reference images`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should delete reference image`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} deleteReferenceImage "${testProduct.projectId}" "${
         testProduct.location
       }" "${testProduct.productId}" "${testProduct.productReferenceImageId}"`
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/similarProducts.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/similarProducts.test.js
index 281b6d0cb7..98578b13e3 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/similarProducts.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/similarProducts.test.js
@@ -17,10 +17,11 @@
 
 const vision = require('@google-cloud/vision');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
 const path = require('path');
 
-const exec = async cmd => (await execa.shell(cmd)).stdout;
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
+
 const cmd = `node productSearch/similarProducts.js`;
 const filter = ['', 'style=womens'];
 const localPath = path.join(__dirname, '../resources/shoes_1.jpg');
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ testSimilarProducts.productPath = productSearch.productSetPath(
 
 describe(`similar products`, () => {
   it(`should check if similar product exists to one provided in local file with no filter`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} getSimilarProductsFile "${testSimilarProducts.projectId}" "${
         testSimilarProducts.location
       }" "${testSimilarProducts.productSetId}" "${
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ describe(`similar products`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should check if similar product exists to one provided in local file with filter`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} getSimilarProductsFile "${testSimilarProducts.projectId}" "${
         testSimilarProducts.location
       }" "${testSimilarProducts.productSetId}" "${
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ describe(`similar products`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should check if similar product exists to one provided in GCS file with no filter`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} getSimilarProductsGcs "${testSimilarProducts.projectId}" "${
         testSimilarProducts.location
       }" "${testSimilarProducts.productSetId}" "${
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ describe(`similar products`, () => {
   });
 
   it(`should check if similar product exists to one provided in GCS file with filter`, async () => {
-    const output = await exec(
+    const output = execSync(
       `${cmd} getSimilarProductsGcs "${testSimilarProducts.projectId}" "${
         testSimilarProducts.location
       }" "${testSimilarProducts.productSetId}" "${
diff --git a/vision/samples/system-test/textDetection.test.js b/vision/samples/system-test/textDetection.test.js
index b567563bdd..8a4d283812 100644
--- a/vision/samples/system-test/textDetection.test.js
+++ b/vision/samples/system-test/textDetection.test.js
@@ -17,24 +17,26 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 const {assert} = require('chai');
-const execa = require('execa');
+const cp = require('child_process');
+
+const execSync = cmd => cp.execSync(cmd, {encoding: 'utf-8'});
 
 describe(`Text Detection`, () => {
   it(`should detect texts`, async () => {
     const inputDir = path.join(__dirname, `../resources`);
-    const result = await execa.shell(`node textDetection analyze ${inputDir}`, {
-      reject: false,
-    });
-    if (result.stderr) {
-      if (result.stderr.match(/connect ECONNREFUSED/)) {
+    try {
+      execSync(`node textDetection analyze ${inputDir}`);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (err.stderr.match(/connect ECONNREFUSED/)) {
         console.error(
           '☣️ Redis is unavailable. Skipping vision textDetection test.'
         );
-        return true;
+        return;
       }
-      throw new Error(result.stderr);
+      throw new Error(err.stderr);
     }
-    const {stdout} = await execa.shell('node textDetection lookup sunbeams');
+
+    const stdout = execSync('node textDetection lookup sunbeams');
     assert.match(stdout, /sunbeamkitties/);
   });
 });