diff --git a/qemu/tests/multi_vms_nics.py b/qemu/tests/multi_vms_nics.py
index 8610e5452a0247796a009966384b7e9b4bbd3914..b7b25d8e254593dbd7935d2e917cfdd692defec6 100644
--- a/qemu/tests/multi_vms_nics.py
+++ b/qemu/tests/multi_vms_nics.py
@@ -147,14 +147,14 @@ def run(test, params, env):
     flood_minutes = float(params["flood_minutes"])
     error_context.context("Check irqbalance service status", logging.info)
     o = process.system_output(check_irqbalance_cmd, ignore_status=True,
-                              shell=True)
+                              shell=True).decode()
     check_stop_irqbalance = False
     if re.findall(status_irqbalance, o):
         logging.debug("stop irqbalance")
         process.run(stop_irqbalance_cmd, shell=True)
         check_stop_irqbalance = True
         o = process.system_output(check_irqbalance_cmd, ignore_status=True,
-                                  shell=True)
+                                  shell=True).decode()
         if re.findall(status_irqbalance, o):
             test.error("Can not stop irqbalance")
     thread_list = []