diff --git a/framework/CHANGELOG.md b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
index f3f5041ef1..a9da5906c1 100644
--- a/framework/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Yii Framework 2 Change Log
 2.0.16 under development
 ------------------------
 
+- Bug #16183: Fixed when `yii\helpers\BaseFileHelper` sometimes returned wrong value (samdark, SilverFire, OndrejVasicek)
 - Bug #13932: Fix number validator attributes comparison (uaoleg, s1lver)
 - Bug #14039, #16636: Fixed validation for disabled inputs (s1lver, omzy83)
 - Bug #16425: Check for additional values for disabled confirm dialog (Alex-Code, s1lver)
diff --git a/framework/helpers/BaseFileHelper.php b/framework/helpers/BaseFileHelper.php
index 026090f8f8..2c1cbbc95e 100644
--- a/framework/helpers/BaseFileHelper.php
+++ b/framework/helpers/BaseFileHelper.php
@@ -415,9 +415,13 @@ class BaseFileHelper
             return unlink($path);
         } catch (ErrorException $e) {
             // last resort measure for Windows
-            $lines = [];
-            exec('DEL /F/Q ' . escapeshellarg($path), $lines, $deleteError);
-            return $deleteError !== 0;
+            if (function_exists('exec') && file_exists($path)) {
+                exec('DEL /F/Q ' . escapeshellarg($path));
+
+                return !file_exists($path);
+            }
+
+            return false;
         }
     }