diff --git a/platforms/ios/build_framework.py b/platforms/ios/build_framework.py
index bc765872a0..4895493a54 100755
--- a/platforms/ios/build_framework.py
+++ b/platforms/ios/build_framework.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def execute(cmd, cwd = None):
         raise Exception("Child returned:", retcode)
 
 def getXCodeMajor():
-    ret = check_output(["xcodebuild", "-version"])
+    ret = check_output(["xcodebuild", "-version"]).decode("utf-8")
     m = re.match(r'Xcode\s+(\d+)\..*', ret, flags=re.IGNORECASE)
     if m:
         return int(m.group(1))