diff --git a/bumblebee/modules/gpmdp.py b/bumblebee/modules/gpmdp.py
index 36988e8..ef74fbe 100644
--- a/bumblebee/modules/gpmdp.py
+++ b/bumblebee/modules/gpmdp.py
@@ -52,7 +52,13 @@ class Module(bumblebee.engine.Module):
             status = bumblebee.util.execute("gpmdp-remote status")
         except RuntimeError:
             pass
-        self._status = status.split("\n")[0].lower()
-        self._tags = info.split("\n")[0]
+        try:
+            unicode_status = status.decode('utf-8')
+            unicode_info = info.decode('utf-8')
+        except AttributeError:
+            unicode_status = status
+            unicode_info = info
+        self._status = unicode_status.split("\n")[0].lower()
+        self._tags = unicode_info.split("\n")[0]
 
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