diff --git a/pym/client/client.py b/pym/client/client.py
index 0ad6007..ff97df4 100644
--- a/pym/client/client.py
+++ b/pym/client/client.py
@@ -1335,7 +1335,7 @@ class Client(commandServer, encrypt, Desktop):
         if not self.syncUserNew(ps, uid, gid, homeDir, "login",
                                 remoteProfile, host=host,
                                 rsyncopts=remoteOpts):
-            error_output = ps.output
+            error_output = ps.output.decode("UTF-8")
             if remoteOpts and re.search(r"(on remote machine.*unknown option|"
                           "unknown compress name:)",
                     error_output):
@@ -1373,7 +1373,7 @@ class Client(commandServer, encrypt, Desktop):
                 f.write("SUCCESS")
             if not self.syncUserNew(ps, uid, gid, homeDir, "logout",
                                     remoteProfile, host=host, skipList=skipList):
-                self.printERROR(ps.output)
+                self.printERROR(ps.output.decode("UTF-8"))
                 self.printERROR(_("Failed to execute rsync"))
                 return False
         return True