diff --git a/version.py b/version.py
index e4bedd4..c1e513f 100644
--- a/version.py
+++ b/version.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def call_git_describe():
                   stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
         p.stderr.close()
         line = p.stdout.readlines()[0]
-        return line.strip()
+        return line.strip().decode('utf-8')
 
     except:
         return None
@@ -96,8 +96,7 @@ def get_git_version():
         write_release_version(version)
 
     # Finally, return the current version.
-
-    return version[1:].decode('utf-8')
+    return version[1:]
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":