diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index d75d78e..e35b411 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ except:
 
 def get_version():
     import subprocess
-    rev = subprocess.check_output(['git', 'rev-list', 'HEAD', '--count']).strip()
+    rev = subprocess.check_output(['git', 'rev-list', 'HEAD', '--count']).decode().strip()
     return rev or u'unknown'
 
 setup(name='oxtimelines',