diff --git a/master.cfg b/master.cfg
index d6b92af..4750402 100644
--- a/master.cfg
+++ b/master.cfg
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ send to the gdb-testers mailing list."""
             elif n == 'compile gdb':
                 text += "*** Failed to compiled GDB.  ***\n"
                 text += "============================\n"
-                text += log.getText ().encode ('ascii', 'xmlcharrefreplace')
+                text += log.getText ().decode ('ascii', 'xmlcharrefreplace')
                 text += "============================\n"
                 break
             elif n == 'make tags':