diff --git a/scripts/nbrshow b/scripts/nbrshow
index 980ddd9d77..dddeaa696a 100644
--- a/scripts/nbrshow
+++ b/scripts/nbrshow
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class NbrBase(object):
         """
             Fetch Neighbor data (ARP/IPv6 Neigh) from kernel.
         """
-        p = subprocess.Popen(self.cmd, shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        p = subprocess.Popen(self.cmd, shell=True, text=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
         (output, err) = p.communicate()
         rc = p.wait()