diff --git a/tests/python/pants_test/pants_run_integration_test.py b/tests/python/pants_test/pants_run_integration_test.py
index bf2f9a847b9..48d1c9ba1c8 100644
--- a/tests/python/pants_test/pants_run_integration_test.py
+++ b/tests/python/pants_test/pants_run_integration_test.py
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ def bundle_and_run(self, target, bundle_name, bundle_jar_name=None, bundle_optio
         stdout, _ = java_run.communicate()
       java_returncode = java_run.returncode
       self.assertEqual(java_returncode, 0)
-      return stdout
+      return stdout.decode('utf-8')
 
   def assert_success(self, pants_run, msg=None):
     self.assert_result(pants_run, self.PANTS_SUCCESS_CODE, expected=True, msg=msg)