diff --git a/coriolis/osmorphing/netpreserver/interfaces.py b/coriolis/osmorphing/netpreserver/interfaces.py
index 19fbae985..5c5ebf888 100644
--- a/coriolis/osmorphing/netpreserver/interfaces.py
+++ b/coriolis/osmorphing/netpreserver/interfaces.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def _parse_iface_file(interface_file):
             curr_ip_address = None
             curr_iface = None
             interfaces_contents = self.osmorphing_tool._read_file_sudo(
-                interface_file).decode()
+                interface_file)
             LOG.debug(
                 "Fetched %s contents: %s", interface_file, interfaces_contents)
             for line in interfaces_contents.splitlines():