diff --git a/infer/lib/python/inferlib/bucklib.py b/infer/lib/python/inferlib/bucklib.py
index f9e1940fb..111181d87 100644
--- a/infer/lib/python/inferlib/bucklib.py
+++ b/infer/lib/python/inferlib/bucklib.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class NotFoundInJar(Exception):
 
 def load_json_report(opened_jar, path):
     try:
-        return json.loads(opened_jar.read(path).decode())
+        return json.loads(opened_jar.read(path).decode('utf-8'))
     except KeyError:
         raise NotFoundInJar