diff --git a/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py b/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
index 104b215078..aaa2c70ad1 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
+++ b/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
@@ -544,8 +544,7 @@ def iproute2_is_vrf_capable():
                 ["ip", "route", "show", "vrf"],
                 stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                 stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
-                stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
-                encoding="utf-8"
+                stdin=subprocess.PIPE
             )
             iproute2_err = subp.communicate()[1].splitlines()[0].split()[0]