diff --git a/pypungi/pungi.py b/pypungi/pungi.py
index 3f74669..018bb31 100755
--- a/pypungi/pungi.py
+++ b/pypungi/pungi.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class Pungi:
 
         log.info("Running %s" % ' '.join(command))
 
-        p1 = subprocess.Popen(command, cwd=rundir, stdout=output, stderr=error)
+        p1 = subprocess.Popen(command, cwd=rundir, stdout=output, stderr=error, universal_newlines=True)
         (out, err) = p1.communicate()
         if p1.returncode != 0:
             log.error("Got an error from %s" % command[0])
