diff --git a/tools/fuchsia/merge_and_upload_debug_symbols.py b/tools/fuchsia/merge_and_upload_debug_symbols.py
index 6e1038ed7ce1f..6005b6dcfc8ae 100755
--- a/tools/fuchsia/merge_and_upload_debug_symbols.py
+++ b/tools/fuchsia/merge_and_upload_debug_symbols.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ def CheckCIPDPackageExists(package_name, tag):
       tag,
   ]
   stdout = subprocess.check_output(command)
+  stdout = stdout if isinstance(stdout, str) else stdout.decode('UTF-8')
   match = re.search(r'No matching instances\.', stdout)
   if match:
     return False