diff --git a/gramps/grampsapp.py b/gramps/grampsapp.py
index 1c184b2f8..4e54e7dc8 100644
--- a/gramps/grampsapp.py
+++ b/gramps/grampsapp.py
@@ -282,8 +282,10 @@ def show_settings():
 
     try:
         dotversion_str = Popen(['dot', '-V'], stderr=PIPE).communicate(input=None)[1]
+        if isinstance(dotversion_str, bytes):
+            dotversion_str = dotversion_str.decode(sys.stdin.encoding)
         if dotversion_str:
-            dotversion_str = dotversion_str.replace('\n','')
+            dotversion_str = dotversion_str.replace('\n','')[23:27]
     except:
         dotversion_str = 'Graphviz not in system PATH'
 
@@ -292,6 +294,8 @@ def show_settings():
             gsversion_str = Popen(['gswin32c', '--version'], stdout=PIPE).communicate(input=None)[0]
         else:
             gsversion_str = Popen(['gs', '--version'], stdout=PIPE).communicate(input=None)[0]
+        if isinstance(gsversion_str, bytes):
+            gsversion_str = gsversion_str.decode(sys.stdin.encoding)
         if gsversion_str:
             gsversion_str = gsversion_str.replace('\n', '')
     except: