diff --git a/pelican/tests/test_pelican.py b/pelican/tests/test_pelican.py
index 75d644bc..4a13e942 100644
--- a/pelican/tests/test_pelican.py
+++ b/pelican/tests/test_pelican.py
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ class TestPelican(LoggedTestCase):
                 if msg in line:
                     return True
             return False
+        out = out.decode('utf8')
         if err:
             err = '\n'.join([l for l in err.decode('utf8').splitlines()
                              if not ignorable_git_crlf_errors(l)])