diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 0e90717..09f6e39 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+1.3.16.dev0
+ * #201: Fix for spurious Borg traceback when initializing a repository in an empty directory.
+
 1.3.15
  * #208: Fix for traceback when the "checks" option has an empty value.
  * #209: Bypass Borg error about a moved repository via "relocated_repo_access_is_ok" option in
diff --git a/borgmatic/execute.py b/borgmatic/execute.py
index 44dc16d..d3ec975 100644
--- a/borgmatic/execute.py
+++ b/borgmatic/execute.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def execute_command(full_command, output_log_level=logging.INFO, shell=False):
     logger.debug(' '.join(full_command))
 
     if output_log_level is None:
-        output = subprocess.check_output(full_command, shell=shell)
+        output = subprocess.check_output(full_command, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, shell=shell)
         return output.decode() if output is not None else None
     else:
         execute_and_log_output(full_command, output_log_level, shell=shell)
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a42a86d..443a041 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from setuptools import find_packages, setup
 
-VERSION = '1.3.15'
+VERSION = '1.3.16.dev0'
 
 
 setup(
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_execute.py b/tests/unit/test_execute.py
index ec2ebe9..f906403 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_execute.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_execute.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def test_execute_command_captures_output():
     full_command = ['foo', 'bar']
     expected_output = '[]'
     flexmock(module.subprocess).should_receive('check_output').with_args(
-        full_command, shell=False
+        full_command, stderr=module.subprocess.STDOUT, shell=False
     ).and_return(flexmock(decode=lambda: expected_output)).once()
 
     output = module.execute_command(full_command, output_log_level=None)
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def test_execute_command_captures_output_with_shell():
     full_command = ['foo', 'bar']
     expected_output = '[]'
     flexmock(module.subprocess).should_receive('check_output').with_args(
-        full_command, shell=True
+        full_command, stderr=module.subprocess.STDOUT, shell=True
     ).and_return(flexmock(decode=lambda: expected_output)).once()
 
     output = module.execute_command(full_command, output_log_level=None, shell=True)