diff --git a/modules/mono/config.py b/modules/mono/config.py
index 3fcc6354b38..0b06824b006 100644
--- a/modules/mono/config.py
+++ b/modules/mono/config.py
@@ -264,11 +264,13 @@ def pkgconfig_try_find_mono_root(mono_lib_names, sharedlib_ext):
 
 
 def pkgconfig_try_find_mono_version():
+    from compat import decode_utf8
+
     lines = subprocess.check_output(['pkg-config', 'monosgen-2', '--modversion']).splitlines()
     greater_version = None
     for line in lines:
         try:
-            version = LooseVersion(line)
+            version = LooseVersion(decode_utf8(line))
             if greater_version is None or version > greater_version:
                 greater_version = version
         except ValueError: