diff --git a/app/routes.py b/app/routes.py
index f3f81bd..b17c8f7 100644
--- a/app/routes.py
+++ b/app/routes.py
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ def git_update() -> None:
 @writing_blueprint.route('/status', methods=['GET'])
 def status_page() -> Response:
     status_message = f"Currently running on '{os.environ.get('UNDERCOVER_SERVER_NAME')}' server"
-    current_git_hash = subprocess.check_output(['pwd'])
+    current_git_hash = subprocess.check_output(['pwd']).decode('utf-8')
     #current_git_hash = subprocess.check_output(['git', 'rev-parse', '--short', 'HEAD'], shell=True, universal_newlines=True)
     return make_response(render_template('error.jinja2', status=200, error_text=status_message, extra_text=current_git_hash), 200)