gistfile1.txt

run() {
  ssh -i $keypair ubuntu@$host $*
}

run_ensuring_success() {
  output=$(run $*)
  if [[ $? != 0 ]] ; then
    echo "AMIBUILDER: Command failed: $*"
    terminate_instance
    exit 1
  fi
  $output  # <-- How to I make run_ensuring_success() return the command output like run() does?
}

output1=$(run "hostname") # -> domU-12-31-38-06-C0-71
output2=$(run_ensuring_success "hostname") # -bash: domU-12-31-38-06-C0-71: command not found