diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/cli/doctor.py b/lib/python/qmk/cli/doctor.py
index 3474422a891..2b6a03e443a 100755
--- a/lib/python/qmk/cli/doctor.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/cli/doctor.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def doctor(cli):
     elif OS == "Linux":
         cli.log.info("Detected {fg_cyan}Linux.")
         if shutil.which('systemctl'):
-            mm_check = subprocess.run(['systemctl', 'list-unit-files'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, timeout=10)
+            mm_check = subprocess.run(['systemctl', 'list-unit-files'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, timeout=10, universal_newlines=True)
             if mm_check.returncode == 0:
                 mm = True
                 for line in mm_check.stdout.split('\n'):