diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/ExecContext.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/ExecContext.py
index cc1aa926..d9696427 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/ExecContext.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/ExecContext.py
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ class ExecContext(Base):
         if result.status == 0:
             return _build_stat_result(result.stdout.split(_US), mode_base=16)
 
-        if not _looks_like_option_error(result.stderr.decode()):
+        if not _looks_like_option_error(result.stderr):
             # log(DEBUG, f'GNU stat attempt failed on "{path}" ({str(e)})')
             _raise_stat_error(path, result.stderr, result.status)