diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/femmesh/gmshtools.py b/src/Mod/Fem/femmesh/gmshtools.py
index 4e02d11dfd..9e75f8a9b6 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/femmesh/gmshtools.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/femmesh/gmshtools.py
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ class GmshTools():
             )
             output, error = p.communicate()
             if sys.version_info.major >= 3:
-                output = output.decode('utf-8')
+                # output = output.decode('utf-8')
                 error = error.decode('utf-8')
             # stdout is still cut at some point
             # but the warnings are in stderr and thus printed :-)