diff --git a/scripts/chatbot.py b/scripts/chatbot.py
index 7579649385e567c2a14a69491f9c248057abcdde..b91272ef8de0a251ba9f1b01acea1244848c76cd 100644
--- a/scripts/chatbot.py
+++ b/scripts/chatbot.py
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ def register_handlers(bot):
                 "Sorry @{}, only operators and shifters are allowed to mess "
                 "with me, sorry...".format(user), channel_id)
             return
-        status = subprocess.check_output(['supervisorctl', 'status'])
+        status = subprocess.check_output(['supervisorctl',
+                                          'status']).decode('ascii')
         bot.send_message(status, channel_id)
 
     def shifters(msg, user, channel_id):