diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e024276..16dd8ff 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ setup(name=pname,
       author_email='dobdin@gmail.com',
       license='Apache2',
       url='https://github.com/adobdin/timmy',
-      description = ('Mirantis OpenStack Ansible-like tool for parallel node '
-                     'operations: two-way data transfer, log collection, '
-                     'remote command execution'),
+      description=('Mirantis OpenStack Ansible-like tool for parallel node '
+                   'operations: two-way data transfer, log collection, '
+                   'remote command execution'),
       long_description=open('README.md').read(),
       packages=[pname],
       install_requires=['pyyaml'],
diff --git a/timmy/env.py b/timmy/env.py
index 4b79ea6..d164e4e 100644
--- a/timmy/env.py
+++ b/timmy/env.py
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
 #    under the License.
 
 project_name = 'timmy'
-version = '1.15.2'
+version = '1.15.3'
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    import sys
     sys.exit(0)
diff --git a/timmy/nodes.py b/timmy/nodes.py
index a3f94ac..53e0832 100644
--- a/timmy/nodes.py
+++ b/timmy/nodes.py
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ class Node(object):
         return mapcmds, mapscr
 
     def exec_simple_cmd(self, cmd, timeout=15, infile=None, outfile=None,
-                        fake=False, ok_codes=None, input=None):
+                        fake=False, ok_codes=None, input=None, decode=True):
         self.logger.info('node:%s(%s), exec: %s' % (self.id, self.ip, cmd))
         if not fake:
             outs, errs, code = tools.ssh_node(ip=self.ip,
@@ -270,6 +270,7 @@ class Node(object):
                                               timeout=timeout,
                                               outputfile=outfile,
                                               ok_codes=ok_codes,
+                                              decode=decode,
                                               input=input,
                                               prefix=self.prefix)
             self.check_code(code, 'exec_simple_cmd', cmd, errs, ok_codes)
@@ -885,7 +886,7 @@ class NodeManager(object):
                               't config parameter (--logs-coeff CLI parameter)'
                               ' or free up space.' % (self.conf['outdir'],
                                                       self.alogsize, coeff,
-                                                         fs))
+                                                      fs))
             return False
         else:
             return True
@@ -957,7 +958,8 @@ class NodeManager(object):
                     'timeout': timeout,
                     'outfile': node.archivelogsfile,
                     'input': input,
-                    'ok_codes': [0, 1]}
+                    'ok_codes': [0, 1],
+                    'decode': False}
             run_items.append(tools.RunItem(target=node.exec_simple_cmd,
                                            args=args))
         tools.run_batch(run_items, maxthreads)
diff --git a/timmy/tools.py b/timmy/tools.py
index 8236f56..e126ec4 100644
--- a/timmy/tools.py
+++ b/timmy/tools.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def mdir(directory):
             sys.exit(3)
 
 
-def launch_cmd(cmd, timeout, input=None, ok_codes=None):
+def launch_cmd(cmd, timeout, input=None, ok_codes=None, decode=True):
     def _timeout_terminate(pid):
         try:
             os.kill(pid, 15)
@@ -217,8 +217,10 @@ def launch_cmd(cmd, timeout, input=None, ok_codes=None):
         timeout_killer = threading.Timer(timeout, _timeout_terminate, [p.pid])
         timeout_killer.start()
         outs, errs = p.communicate(input=input)
-        outs = outs.decode('utf-8')
-        errs = errs.decode('utf-8').rstrip('\n')
+        errs = errs.rstrip('\n')
+        if decode:
+            outs = outs.decode('utf-8')
+            errs = errs.decode('utf-8')
     finally:
         if timeout_killer:
             timeout_killer.cancel()
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ def launch_cmd(cmd, timeout, input=None, ok_codes=None):
 
 def ssh_node(ip, command='', ssh_opts=None, env_vars=None, timeout=15,
              filename=None, inputfile=None, outputfile=None,
-             ok_codes=None, input=None, prefix=None):
+             ok_codes=None, input=None, prefix=None, decode=True):
     if not ssh_opts:
         ssh_opts = ''
     if not env_vars:
@@ -264,7 +266,8 @@ def ssh_node(ip, command='', ssh_opts=None, env_vars=None, timeout=15,
     cmd = ("input=\"$(cat | xxd -p)\"; trap 'kill $pid' 15; " +
            "trap 'kill $pid' 2; echo -n \"$input\" | xxd -r -p | " + cmd +
            ' &:; pid=$!; wait $!')
-    return launch_cmd(cmd, timeout, input=input, ok_codes=ok_codes)
+    return launch_cmd(cmd, timeout, input=input,
+                      ok_codes=ok_codes, decode=decode)
 
 
 def get_files_rsync(ip, data, ssh_opts, dpath, timeout=15):