diff --git a/gyp/pylib/gyp/input.py b/gyp/pylib/gyp/input.py
index d9699a0a50..f76e75797e 100644
--- a/gyp/pylib/gyp/input.py
+++ b/gyp/pylib/gyp/input.py
@@ -967,7 +967,8 @@ def ExpandVariables(input, phase, variables, build_file):
                             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                             shell=use_shell,
                             cwd=build_file_dir,
-                            check=False
+                            check=False,
+                            text=True
                         )
                     except Exception as e:
                         raise GypError(
@@ -980,7 +981,7 @@ def ExpandVariables(input, phase, variables, build_file):
                             "Call to '%s' returned exit status %d while in %s."
                             % (contents, result.returncode, build_file)
                         )
-                    replacement = result.stdout.decode("utf-8").rstrip()
+                    replacement = result.stdout.rstrip()
 
                 cached_command_results[cache_key] = replacement
             else: