1 files changed, 1 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/git/cmd.py b/git/cmd.py
index 2bff3310..aac7ffb7 100644
--- a/git/cmd.py
+++ b/git/cmd.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class Git(LazyMixin):
             :raise GitCommandError: if the return status is not 0"""
             status = self.proc.wait()
             if status != 0:
-                raise GitCommandError(self.args, status, self.proc.stderr.read())
+                raise GitCommandError(self.args, status, self.proc.stderr.read().decode(defenc))
             # END status handling
             return status
     # END auto interrupt