diff --git a/servermanager.py b/servermanager.py
index 958edd1..db06cfd 100644
--- a/servermanager.py
+++ b/servermanager.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def create_server(name, port, channel):
 
 def get_nations():
     # TODO mod support
-    nation_string = str(subprocess.check_output([SERVER_PATH, "--listnations"]))
+    nation_string = subprocess.check_output([SERVER_PATH, "--listnations"]).decode()
     nations = {}
     current_era = None
     for line in nation_string.splitlines():