diff --git a/tools/r8_release.py b/tools/r8_release.py
index 783b30d..d356586 100755
--- a/tools/r8_release.py
+++ b/tools/r8_release.py
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@
   # [INFO] 06/19/2020 09:35:12 CEST: Release ID = 9171d015-18f6-4a90-9984-1c362589dc1b
   # [INFO] 06/19/2020 09:35:12 CEST: Stage Path = /bigstore/studio_staging/maven2/sgjesse/9171d015-18f6-4a90-9984-1c362589dc1b
 
-  matches = GMAVEN_PUBLISH_STAGE_RELEASE_ID_PATTERN.findall(output)
+  matches = GMAVEN_PUBLISH_STAGE_RELEASE_ID_PATTERN.findall(output.decode("utf-8"))
   if matches == None or len(matches) > 1:
     print("Could not determine the release ID from the gmaven_publisher " +
           "output. Expected a line with 'Release ID = <release id>'.")