diff --git a/src/database/wscript b/src/database/wscript
index 8eca1d0..3916a7d 100644
--- a/src/database/wscript
+++ b/src/database/wscript
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def configure(conf):
   conf.env.BUILD_PGSQL = False
   if not Options.options.disable_database:
     try:
-      incdir = subprocess.check_output(['pg_config', '--includedir-server']).decode()
+      incdir = subprocess.check_output(['pg_config', '--includedir-server']).decode('utf-8')
       libdir = subprocess.check_output(['pg_config', '--libdir']).decode()
       if conf.check_cxx(lib = 'pq',
                         header_name = 'postgres.h',