diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 3bd38b9e89..37dcf02c84 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ jobs:
               # to override the version with a derivative of the branch name
 
               # override the version if `git describe --tag` does not start with the branch version
-              last_release = check_output(["git", "describe", "--tag"])
+              last_release = check_output(["git", "describe", "--tag"], text=True).strip()
               prefix = "${{ github.ref_name }}"[:-1]  # without x suffix
               if not last_release.startswith(prefix):
                   envs["VERSION_OVERRIDE"] = "${{ github.ref_name }}"