diff --git a/Lib/test/test_gdb.py b/Lib/test/test_gdb.py
index 77cf94f..2f50b88 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_gdb.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_gdb.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 p = subprocess.Popen(["gdb", "--batch", cmd],
                      stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
 gdbpy_version, _ = p.communicate()
-if gdbpy_version == '':
+if gdbpy_version == b'':
     raise unittest.SkipTest("gdb not built with embedded python support")