diff --git a/tools/windows/eclipse_make.py b/tools/windows/eclipse_make.py
index 76f510c0b..4f877ccf8 100644
--- a/tools/windows/eclipse_make.py
+++ b/tools/windows/eclipse_make.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def check_path(path):
         pass
     paths[path] = path  # cache as failed, replace with success if it works
     try:
-        winpath = subprocess.check_output(["cygpath", "-w", path]).strip()
+        winpath = subprocess.check_output(["cygpath", "-w", path]).decode().strip()
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
         return path  # something went wrong running cygpath, assume this is not a path!
     if not os.path.exists(winpath):