diff --git a/utils/getdeveloperlib.py b/utils/getdeveloperlib.py
index 438d26d68d..f351f05a1f 100644
--- a/utils/getdeveloperlib.py
+++ b/utils/getdeveloperlib.py
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ def check_developers(developers, basepath=None):
     if basepath is None:
         basepath = os.getcwd()
     cmd = ["git", "--git-dir", os.path.join(basepath, ".git"), "ls-files"]
-    files = subprocess.check_output(cmd).strip().split("\n")
+    files = subprocess.check_output(cmd).decode(sys.stdout.encoding).strip().split("\n")
     unhandled_files = []
     for f in files:
         handled = False