diff --git a/bin/linja.in b/bin/linja.in
index 9d805e578..51e8b288f 100755
--- a/bin/linja.in
+++ b/bin/linja.in
@@ -516,6 +516,10 @@ def call_ninja(args):
         ninja_option += ["-k", args.keep_going]
     proc = subprocess.Popen([g_ninja_path] + ninja_option + targets, stdout=proc_out, stderr=proc_err)
     (out, err) = proc.communicate()
+    if out:
+      out = out.decode('utf-8')
+    if err:
+      err = err.decode('utf-8')
     if args.flycheck:
         if len(args.targets) == 1 and (args.targets[0].endswith(".lean") or args.targets[0].endswith(".hlean")):
             process_lean_output(targets[0], out, args, args.targets[0].endswith(".hlean"))
@@ -528,7 +532,7 @@ def call_ninja(args):
 def call_lean(filename, args):
     proc = subprocess.Popen([g_lean_path] + args.lean_options + [filename],
                             stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
-    out = proc.communicate()[0]
+    out = proc.communicate()[0].decode('utf-8')
     process_lean_output(filename, out, args, filename.endswith(".hlean"))
     return proc.returncode
 
@@ -684,13 +688,13 @@ def make_deps(lean_file, dlean_file, olean_file):
     with open(dlean_file, "w") as f:
         deps = []
         proc = subprocess.Popen([g_lean_path, "--deps", lean_file], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
-        output = proc.communicate()[0]
+        output = proc.communicate()[0].decode('utf-8')
         print(escape_dep(olean_file) + ": \\", file=f)
         for olean_file in output.strip().splitlines():
             if olean_file:
                 deps.append(normalize_drive_name(os.path.abspath(olean_file)))
         deps = list(map(escape_dep, deps))
-        deps_str = b" " + (b" \\\n ".join(deps))
+        deps_str = " " + (" \\\n ".join(deps))
         print(deps_str, file=f)
 
 def make_deps_all_files(args):