diff --git a/bin/stencil-start.js b/bin/stencil-start.js
index 00b93acf..ab306783 100755
--- a/bin/stencil-start.js
+++ b/bin/stencil-start.js
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ if (!versionCheck()) {
     process.exit(2);
 }
 
-if (!fileExist(dotStencilFilePath)) {
+if (!Fs.existsSync(dotStencilFilePath)) {
     console.error('Error: Please run'.red + ' $ stencil init'.cyan + ' first.'.red);
     process.exit(2);
 }
 
-if (!fileExist(Path.join(themePath, 'config.json'))) {
+if (!Fs.existsSync(Path.join(themePath, 'config.json'))) {
     console.error('Error: You must have a '.red + 'config.json'.cyan + ' file in your top level theme directory.');
     process.exit(2);
 }
@@ -244,20 +244,6 @@ function assembleTemplates(templatePath, callback) {
     });
 }
 
-/**
- * Check if file exist synchronous
- * @param  {string} path
- * @return {boolean}
- */
-function fileExist(path) {
-    try {
-        return !!Fs.statSync(path);
-    }
-    catch (e) {
-        return false;
-    }
-}
-
 /**
  * Displays information about your environment and configuration.
  * @return {string}
diff --git a/lib/theme-config.js b/lib/theme-config.js
index f532d44b..5f110c11 100644
--- a/lib/theme-config.js
+++ b/lib/theme-config.js
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ ThemeConfig.prototype.getDemoUrl = function () {
  * @return {Boolean}
  */
 ThemeConfig.prototype.configExists = function () {
-    return fileExists(this.configPath);
+    return Fs.existsSync(this.configPath);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ ThemeConfig.prototype.configExists = function () {
  * @return {Boolean}
  */
 ThemeConfig.prototype.schemaExists = function () {
-    return fileExists(this.schemaPath);
+    return Fs.existsSync(this.schemaPath);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ ThemeConfig.prototype.schemaExists = function () {
  * @return {Boolean}
  */
 ThemeConfig.prototype.schemaTranslationsExists = function () {
-    return fileExists(this.schemaTranslationsPath);
+    return Fs.existsSync(this.schemaTranslationsPath);
 };
 
 /**
@@ -477,17 +477,3 @@ function getVariation(config, variationIndex) {
 
     return variation;
 }
-
-/**
- * Check if file exist syncronous
- * @param  {string} path
- * @return {boolean}
- */
-function fileExists(path) {
-    try {
-        return !!Fs.statSync(path);
-    }
-    catch (e) {
-        return false;
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tasks/changelog/changelog-generator.js b/tasks/changelog/changelog-generator.js
index 22de919c..98f52d9f 100644
--- a/tasks/changelog/changelog-generator.js
+++ b/tasks/changelog/changelog-generator.js
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ function ChangelogGenerator(fs, cwd, commandExecutor) {
             ...customOptions,
         };
 
-        try {
-            fs.statSync(options.infile);
-        } catch(error) {
+        if (!fs.existsSync(options.infile)) {
             options.releaseCount = 0;
         }
 
diff --git a/tasks/changelog/changelog-generator.spec.js b/tasks/changelog/changelog-generator.spec.js
index 1e6ee8a1..c5dda660 100644
--- a/tasks/changelog/changelog-generator.spec.js
+++ b/tasks/changelog/changelog-generator.spec.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ describe('ChangelogGenerator', () => {
 
     beforeEach( () => {
         fsMock = {
-            statSync: function() { return true; },
+            existsSync: () => true,
         };
 
         commandExecutor = new CommandExecutor(require('child_process'));
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@ describe('ChangelogGenerator', () => {
     });
 
     it('executes `conventional-changelog` command from scratch if CHANGELOG does not exist', async() => {
-        const changelogGeneratorWithoutFs = new ChangelogGenerator({}, '/src', commandExecutor);
+        const fsMock = {
+            existsSync: () => false,
+        };
+        const changelogGeneratorWithoutFs = new ChangelogGenerator(fsMock, '/src', commandExecutor);
 
         try {
             await promisify(changelogGeneratorWithoutFs.generateChangelog.bind(changelogGeneratorWithoutFs))({});