diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 8c91f0fba1c3af58d282ff62da8a4cf892a40acf..34922393d5eb9f32b37f5a28cba6e17ec5c99e13 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ def write_version():
     import subprocess
     p = subprocess.Popen(["git", "describe", "--dirty"],
                          stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
-    res = p.communicate()
+    res = p.communicate()[0].strip().decode('utf-8')
     with open("nifty4/git_version.py", "w") as file:
         file.write("def get_gitversion():\n")
-        file.write("    return \""+res[0].rstrip()+"\"\n")
+        file.write('    return "{}"\n'.format(res))
 
 write_version()