diff --git a/pungi/notifier.py b/pungi/notifier.py
index 282a9ee0..0fb2562a 100644
--- a/pungi/notifier.py
+++ b/pungi/notifier.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class PungiNotifier(object):
                                workdir=workdir,
                                return_stdout=False,
                                show_cmd=True,
+                               universal_newlines=True,
                                logfile=logfile)
         if ret != 0:
             if self.compose:
diff --git a/tests/test_notifier.py b/tests/test_notifier.py
index 66472529..833b965a 100644
--- a/tests/test_notifier.py
+++ b/tests/test_notifier.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class TestNotifier(unittest.TestCase):
                          stdin_data=json.dumps(data),
                          can_fail=True, return_stdout=False,
                          workdir=self.compose.paths.compose.topdir.return_value,
-                         show_cmd=True, logfile=self.logfile)
+                         universal_newlines=True, show_cmd=True, logfile=self.logfile)
 
     @mock.patch('pungi.util.translate_path')
     @mock.patch('kobo.shortcuts.run')