import subprocess import sys opt = subprocess.run( [ 'opt', '-passes=print','-disable-output', sys.argv[1]], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE ) stdout = opt.stdout.decode() pattern = 'Loop at depth 1 containing' if (pattern in opt.stderr.decode()): print('This is interesting!') sys.exit(0) else: print('This is NOT interesting!') sys.exit(1)