diff --git a/build/git_revision.py b/build/git_revision.py
index c724f224801b6..cbc82d7de898c 100755
--- a/build/git_revision.py
+++ b/build/git_revision.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def GetRepositoryVersion(repository):
     'HEAD',
   ])
 
-  return version.strip()
+  return str(version.strip(), 'utf-8')
 
 def main():
   parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()