diff --git a/git_rebase_update.py b/git_rebase_update.py
index d9a4e91a0..b02ad73c2 100755
--- a/git_rebase_update.py
+++ b/git_rebase_update.py
@@ -197,8 +197,8 @@ def rebase_branch(branch, parent, start_hash):
         else:
           print("Here's what git-rebase (squashed) had to say:")
           print()
-          print(squash_ret.stdout.decode('utf-8'))
-          print(squash_ret.stderr.decode('utf-8'))
+          print(squash_ret.stdout)
+          print(squash_ret.stderr)
           print(textwrap.dedent("""\
           Squashing failed. You probably have a real merge conflict.