diff --git a/tests/hwsim/test_ap_hs20.py b/tests/hwsim/test_ap_hs20.py
index 6afec8f84..af33c3462 100644
--- a/tests/hwsim/test_ap_hs20.py
+++ b/tests/hwsim/test_ap_hs20.py
@@ -4572,7 +4572,7 @@ def get_bridge_macs(ifname):
                            stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
     res = cmd.stdout.read()
     cmd.stdout.close()
-    return res
+    return res.decode()
 
 def tshark_get_arp(cap, filter):
     res = run_tshark(cap, filter,